In the tradition of his forefathers George entered military service obtaining the rank of Captain, serving under his uncle Lieutenant-Colonel Donald McDonell of Greenfield.
who wrote “The Major-General also offers his warmest thanks to Colonel the Honourable Henry Dundas, R.A., for the able disposition of his force and his indefatigable exertions; to Colonel McBean, R.A.; to Colonel R. Duncan Fraser; to Lieutenant-Colonel Gowan and Captain George Greenfield Macdonell and to all the officers of the militia…” [3]: 302 During the Battle of the Windmill George would serve alongside others with whom he would also later serve in Parliament including Ogle Robert Gowan, who represented Leeds in the 2nd Parliament and John Pliny Crysler who succeeded George as the member for Dundas in the 3rd Parliament.
Rolland was the son of John MacDonald of Garth, who had worked very closely with George's father Alexander in the North West Company.
[23][24] Throughout his life George filled a number of public service roles including serving as a Judge Surrogate from 1847 - 1857.
[21]: 314 In 1847 he was elected as one of the first councilors to the Cornwall Board of Police following a new act that had come into force under his leadership as Chairman the prior year.