Ranald MacDonald (1824-1894) was born here at Fort George (replica) which is close by the Sea Lion's anchorage in Astoria, Oregon. He was the son of a Highland Scot, Archibald MacDonald, who oversaw this Hudson Bay Company outpost, and his mother was Princess Raven, daughter of Concomly, powerful chief of the Chinook Indians who greeted Lewis and Clark when the Corps of Discovery reached the Pacific Ocean.
In 1848, at age 24, Ranald, who believed there was a link between his Indian ancestors and the Japanese, risked his life to defy a 200-year-old Imperial edict that barred foreigners from Japan. Though a captive, Ranald taught 14 Japanese scholars who helped lead their country out of isolation. This prepared the way for America's Navy fleet under Commodore Perry which is said to have "opened Japan" to the world. Though little known, it was truly this half-breed lad from Astoria who first penetrated Japan with friendship and the English language. Today, he is well known and revered by the Japanese people.
