McDougall was born in Pyrmont, Sydney and received a primary education before undertaking a boilermaker apprenticeship with the Australasian Steam Navigation Company, later working at Mort's Dock.

He was one of the first members of the United Society of Boilermakers and Iron Shipbuilders of New South Wales and was heavily involved in the union for many years, serving alternately as president and secretary at various times.

In 1917, he was tried and acquitted for an alleged breach of the War Precautions Act after a speech regarding voting in the conscription referendum.

However, he died in office in 1924 from complications of diabetes; he had reportedly been in poor health for some time.

[9] This article about an Australian Labor Party member of the Senate is a stub.