Early Years
Born in Dundee, he initially became a journalist in his hometown but later decided to try his hand at the same profession in the United States, to where he emigrated at the age of 21. He did not find work as a journalist and instead found employment in the automotive industry in Detroit. He then attended the Detroit Technical College, to study engineering.
Although he was now beginning to be established in the United States he took a keen interest in the developing political movement for Scottish independence back home. To that end he joined the newly formed National Party of Scotland in 1928, as an overseas member, and Scotland's political and economic situation was never far from his thoughts.
In 1932, Donaldson married Vi Bruce, another expatriate Scot (from Forfar) and set up home in Washington D.C., where he worked for the Chrysler Corporation. In 1936 Donaldson returned to his native Scotland with his family, moving to Ayrshire to work in farming.
Read more about this topic: Arthur Donaldson
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