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Sam McDonald (1762 – 6 May 1802), called "Big Sam", was a Scotsman of unusual height for his day who had a distinguished military career and was a noted "strongman". Most sources state his height as 6 feet 10 inches, with a burly build, although one 1822 source claims 7 feet 4 inches. Born in Lairg, Sutherland in 1762, he served in the 2nd Sutherland Fencibles 1779-83 and the Royal Scots 1783-1789 (where he served as Fugleman or drill-leader). From 1791-93 he was employed by the Prince of Wales, and during this time appeared at the Drury Lane Theatre, playing Hercules in "Cymon and Iphigenia". From 1793-99 he was in the 3rd Sutherland Fencibles, and from 1799 until his death in 1802 in the newly formed 93rd Sutherland. Due to his height and bulk he generally marched to the side of the formation, and was frequently detached for recruiting. His image was later used on recruiting posters. He died while stationed with the regiment on Guernsey, and is buried there.

There exist several engravings of him, both in military uniform and while serving as a gatekeeper for the Prince of Wales, including three by noted Scottish caricaturist John Kay.

His obituary in the Sydney Gazette was the first newspaper obituary printed in Australia; it appeared in the 12 March 1803 edition.

Notes

References

Brewer, E. Cobham (1898), "Giants of Real Life", Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (available at Bartleby.com)
Stewart, David (1822), Sketches of the character, manners, and present state of the highlanders of Scotland, vol. 2.3, Edinburgh and London, pp. 349–350 {{citation}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help); Unknown parameter |Published= ignored (help)

External links

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-'''Sam McDonald''' (1762 – 6 May 1802), called "Big Sam", was a [[Scotland|Scotsman]] of unusual height for his day who had a distinguished military career and was  a noted "strongman". Most sources state his height as 6 feet 10 inches, with a burly build, although one 1822 source claims 7 feet 4 inches. Born in [[Lairg]], [[Sutherland]] in 1762, he served in the [[2nd Sutherland Fencibles]] 1779-83 and the [[Royal Scots]] 1783-1789 (where he served as [[Fugleman]] or drill-leader). From 1791-93 he was employed by the [[Prince of Wales]], and during this time appeared at the [[Theatre Royal, Drury Lane|Drury Lane Theatre]], playing Hercules in "Cymon and Iphigenia".  From 1793-99 he was in the 3rd Sutherland Fencibles, and from 1799 until his death in 1802 in the newly formed 93rd Sutherland.  Due to his height and bulk he generally marched to the side of the formation, and was frequently detached for recruiting. His image was later used on recruiting posters. He died while stationed with the regiment on [[Guernsey]], and is buried there.
+'''Sam McDonald''' (1762 – 6 May 1802), called "Big Sam", was a [[Scotland|Scotsman]] of unusual height for his day who had a distinguished military career and was  a noted "strongman". Most sources state his height as 6 feet 10 inches, with a burly build, although one 1822 source claims 7 feet 4 inches. Born in [[Lairg]], [[Sutherland]] in 1762, he served in the [[2nd Sutherland Fencibles]] 1779-83 and the [[Royal Scots]] 1783-1789 (where he served as [[Fugleman]] or drill-leader). From 1791-93 he was employed by the [[Prince of Wales]], and during this time appeared at the [[Theatre Royal, Drury Lane|Drury Lane Theatre]], playing Hercules in "Cymon and Iphigenia".  From 1793-99 he was in the [[3rd Sutherland Fencibles]], and from 1799 until his death in 1802 in the newly formed [[93rd (Sutherland Highlanders) Regiment of Foot|93rd Sutherland]]. Due to his height and bulk he generally marched to the side of the formation, and was frequently detached for recruiting. His image was later used on recruiting posters. He died while stationed with the regiment on [[Guernsey]], and is buried there.
 There exist several engravings of him, both in military uniform and while serving as a gatekeeper for the Prince of Wales, including three by noted Scottish caricaturist [[John Kay (caricaturist)|John Kay]].
 His obituary in the ''[[Sydney Gazette]]'' was the first newspaper obituary printed in Australia; it appeared in the 12 March 1803 edition.
+==Notes==
+{{unreferenced|date=January 2013}}
+{{reflist}}
 ==References==
-* E. Cobham Brewer, ''Dictionary of Phrase and Fable'' (1898) under "Giants of Real Life" (available at [http://www.bartleby.com Bartleby.com])
+*{{Citation|first=E. Cobham |last=Brewer |title=Dictionary of Phrase and Fable |year=1898 |chapter=Giants of Real Life |url=http://www.bartleby.com/81/7148.html}} (available at [http://www.bartleby.com Bartleby.com])<!--MCDONALD (Samuel) was 6 feet 10 inches in height. This Scotchman was usually called “Big Sam.” He was the Prince of Wales’s footman, and died in 1802.-->
+*{{Citation||last=Stewart |first=David  |year=1822 |title=Sketches of the character, manners, and present state of the highlanders of Scotland |volume=2.3 |location=Edinburgh and London| Published=Archibald Constable and company; and Hurst and company |url=http://archive.org/details/cihm_54082 |pages=[http://archive.org/stream/cihm_54082#page/n370/mode/1up 349]–350}}
-* David Stewart, ''Sketches of the Character, Manners, and Present State of the Highlanders of Scotland...", Edinburgh (1822).
 ==External links==