Ka kammala wannan jumla: Macdonald ya shiga Royal Navy a shekara ta 1833. Ya yi aiki a cikin
Yaƙin 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.