The Arrival of Alexander MacDonald (1820)
The unique history of the MacDonald family in Suriname officially began on November 25, 1820. On this day, a young Scottish man named Alexander MacDonald (born around 1800) arrived in the Dutch colony of Suriname. He would never return to his homeland in Scotland.
Alexander established his roots in the Nickerie district. He married Sophia van Bunschoten, and together they laid the foundation for a vast family tree. Their children—including Samuel and Alexander James—lived through a complex and transformative era of Surinamese history, witnessing the realities of 19th-century plantation life (such as Plantation Bellevue) and the eventual abolition of slavery. Today, the MacDonald descendants carry a rich, blended heritage that bridges the highlands of Scotland, the tropical coast of Suriname, and the cities of the Netherlands.”