James Donaldson (publisher)

He bequeathed a large part of his estate to the founding of Donaldson's Hospital.

[2] Donaldson was born near the Mercat Cross[3] in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1751.

His father, Alexander Donaldson (1727–1794), was the founding publisher of the Edinburgh Advertiser, but was perhaps better known as a bookseller and litigant, most notably Donaldson v Beckett, during the era known as the Battle of the booksellers.

[2] At age 22, Donaldson became the second publisher of the Tory biweekly newspaper the Edinburgh Advertiser, the paper having been turned over to him by his father.

[6] His apprentices and apprentice compositors included William Wilson, James Campbell, William Begg, Robert Miller, and James Thomson.

[9] He is buried against the southern wall of the churchyard of St Johns at the west end of Princes Street, backing onto the north section of St Cuthberts Churchyard.