Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Macnicol, Donald
MACNICOL, DONALD (1735–1802), presbyterian divine and author, born in 1736, was nephew of Alexander Stewart of Invernahyle, who introduced Sir Walter Scott to the highlands (Lockhart, Life of Scott, p. 38). He studied at the university of St. Andrews, where he graduated in 1756. In 1763 he was appointed parish minister of Saddell, Argyllshire, and was in 1766 transferred to Lismore. He married in 1771 and had two children. He died at Lismore on 28 March 1802.
His 'Remarks on Dr. Samuel Johnson's Journey to the Hebrides,' London, 1779, was a vigorous defence of the highlands against Johnson's attack, and caused Johnson to 'growl hideously.' He wrote the article on Lismore in Sinclair's 'Statistical Account of Scotland,' vol. i.
[Scott's Fasti Eccles. Scot. iii. 49, 75; Statistical Account of Scotland, vii. 240; Boswell's Johnson, ed. Hill, ii. 308.]