MacDonnell, Richard (1787–1867), provost of TCD, was born 10 June 1787 in Cork city, son of Robert MacDonnell, carrier, from Douglas, Co. Cork, and his wife Susannah Nugent, of Co. Waterford. MacDonnell received his primary education at the Cork diocesan school before entering TCD on 7 July 1800. He quickly demonstrated his aptitude by winning a scholarship in 1803 and a fellowship in 1806; the latter was awarded to him on his first attempt, a rare and distinguished achievement. An able and accomplished scholar, he graduated BA (1805), LLB (1810), LLD (1813), and in 1821 received an MA, BD, and DD. In 1812 he was called to the Irish bar at King's Inns, but only practised for a brief period. Although ordained, he apparently declined several episcopates offered to him, choosing instead to devote himself to TCD, which he loyally served until his death.
MacDonnell began his career as a reformer, and as a junior fellow (1806–36) distinguished himself by publishing a pamphlet criticising Trinity's inefficient and inequitable exam system (1828); it was one of the few pamphlets written in the early nineteenth century to propose academic reforms in TCD. He later supported Provost Bartholomew Lloyd (qv) in his substantial educational reforms, including the redistribution of vacations and terms, reorganisation of the tutorial system, and institution of moderatorships (1831–7). MacDonnell's first lecturing post was as professor of oratory (1816–52), though by 1833 this had become a virtual sinecure and involved no teaching. He later became Donegall lecturer (1820–27), professor of laws (1840–41), and regius professor of Greek (1843–52). In 1836 he was promoted to senior fellow and in the same year became bursar (1836–52).
On 24 January 1852, he was appointed provost of TCD, a post he held for fifteen years. Although once described by a colleague as ‘clever’ but ‘vain’, ‘arrogant’, and too ‘lazy’ to count as a reformer (quoted in McDowell & Webb, 206–7), MacDonnell remained a sympathetic and effective liberal while in office (1852–67). He enforced order and discipline, but was courteous and accessible to all students, thus winning their respect. Perhaps his most lasting contribution as provost was his part in the erection of two of the most distinguished architectural structures on campus, the Museum Building (1857) and the Campanile (1854), for which he approved the designs and generated the funding. MacDonnell eschewed party politics, but remained throughout his life a practical liberal; he supported catholic emancipation and the national school system and was concerned for the welfare of those less fortunate, frequently sitting as chairman of Dublin's Mendicity Institute. He was MRIA (1820), sat on the Academy's science committee (from 16 March 1837), and served as secretary to the council (16 March 1837–26 February 1838). Exactly fifteen years from the day he first became provost, MacDonnell fell ill and died 24 January 1867 in the Provost's House; he was buried in the vaults beneath the university chapel.
He married (a. 1814) Jane, daughter of Richard Graves (1763–1829), FTCD, dean of Ardagh; they had several daughters and six sons, including Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell (qv), governor of South Australia and Hong Kong, Rev. John Cotter MacDonnell, dean of Cashel, Hercules MacDonnell, barrister and joint-secretary to the board of charitable donations and bequests, and Rev. Ronald MacDonnell (d. 22 December 1889), rector of Monkstown, Co. Dublin.