John Donaldson (baptised 5 January 1789; died 12 August 1865) was an English music scholar and educator.
[1][2] His father, John, was an organ builder operating in Newcastle upon Tyne and York.
The younger Donaldson moved to Glasgow and opened a music academy in 1816, but in the 1820s qualified as an advocate and ceased teaching.
He purchased a large array of scientific equipment and instruments, established regular lecture series, and made acoustic experiments.
But this was not achieved without opposition from the trustees of Reid's bequest; he spent five years engaged in legal proceedings to extract greater allowances to cover teaching, equipment and building space.