マクドナルドの誕生日と死亡日

抄録

Since MacDonald was first introduced here in Japan, it has been said over and over again that he was born on February 3, 1824. It is no doubt that he was born in 1824, but it is highly doubtful whether he was born on February 3. Though much evidence suggests that he was not born on February 3, the most persuasive seems to be the deposition he gave to Commander Glynn and other high-ranking officials on board the Preble on April 30, 1849 after the warship left Nagasaki Harbor. He said to them, “I was born at Astoria, in Oregon; I am twenty-four years of age....” If he had been born on February 3, he should naturally have said then and there that he was twenty-five., That he did not say so confirms the fact that he was born in May or June, and not on February 3.
Then why did he choose the date February 3 as his birthday? It is because he came to know, perhaps later in life, that Horace Greeley, an American journalist, whom he seems to have respected, had been born on the day. His choice of the date shows nothing but his vanity. And at the same time, it is interesting to note in connection with his birthday that his father, Archibald McDonald, had also been born on February 3. But it seems that McDonald did not know about his father's birthday.
It has also been said again and again that McDonald died on August 5, 1894. Yet one cannot accept this to the letter, for there is an obituary notice that he died on August 24, and not on August 5. The obituary was written just when he died and just where he died. His half brother also said that he died on August 24. And even now, in his home state Washington, there sometimes appear newspaper reports that he died on August 24. Then, when did he die? On August 5 or on August 24?
In the Eastern Washington State Historical Society at Spokane in Washington, there is an affidavit that tells the exact location where McDonald was buried after he died. The affidavit bears the signature of Jennie Lynch, MacDonald's niece. It should be remembered that she is said to be the very woman in whose arms he breathed his last. She is testifying here that MacDonald was buried on August 7, which means that MacDonald died probably around August 5. Since she is the only woman that knew at first hand the circumstances in which he died, one cannot but conclude that MacDonald died on August 5. But even then, some mystery still seems to remain.