Rubuta ci gaba ga wannan sakin layi - Macdonald ya shiga Royal Navy a 1833. Ya yi aiki a Yakin Xhosa na Takwas
a matsayin Kwamandan HMS "Ferret". An gabatar da shi zuwa Kyaftin a shekara ta 1854, ya umurci HMS "Hogue", HMS "Arethusa" sannan kuma HMS "Bellerophon". An nada shi Mataimakin Kwamandan Rundunar Ruwa na Channel a 1872 kuma daga 1873 ya zama shugaban 21 na Clan Macdonald na Clanranald.