Daniel MacDonald
Daniel McDonald was perhaps the strongest man in Peterborough’s history. This young Samson lived for a time in Peter Robinson’s borough when it was a lusty young town, and weight-lifting was a popular sport.
Dan was born in Scotland and came to Upper Canada when he was 18. He was noted for his lifting feats often at the market place. Standing about five feet ten inches and weighing in at 200 pounds, he was said to have lifted a 500 pound dead pig and the 700 pound bell from the clock tower which smashed through the floor when he dropped it.
His lifting feats were renowned and the usually accepted story is that a local merchant returned from a trip to Montreal where he saw a poster offering $500 (a big sum) to anyone who could out lift a Montreal heavyweight. A man who had picked up 1,500 pounds in a harness. Daniel was persuaded to make the trip to Montreal. Dan with harness and iron weights, cleared the ground with 1,500 pounds, and then asked for another 100 pounds. He cleared it again to win the challenge and the $500. Upon return to Peterborough, Dan who had greatly over-strained himself, died within a few days of a ruptured kidney. He died October 27, 1871, at the age of 33. (Excerpt from Peterborough Examiner by Cec Perdue.)
Daniel MacDonald is buried in Little Lake Cemetery. The following is the epitaph etched on his grave stone — “Ye weak beware, here lyes the strong. A victim to his strength. He lifted 1,600 pounds and here he lays at length.”
Year Inducted:
1988
Status:
Deceased
Daniel McDonald was perhaps the strongest man in Peterborough’s history. This young Samson lived for a time in Peter Robinson’s borough when it was a lusty young town, and weight-lifting was a popular sport.
Dan was born in Scotland and came to Upper Canada when he was 18. He was noted for his lifting feats often at the market place. Standing about five feet ten inches and weighing in at 200 pounds, he was said to have lifted a 500 pound dead pig and the 700 pound bell from the clock tower which smashed through the floor when he dropped it.
His lifting feats were renowned and the usually accepted story is that a local merchant returned from a trip to Montreal where he saw a poster offering $500 (a big sum) to anyone who could out lift a Montreal heavyweight. A man who had picked up 1,500 pounds in a harness. Daniel was persuaded to make the trip to Montreal. Dan with harness and iron weights, cleared the ground with 1,500 pounds, and then asked for another 100 pounds. He cleared it again to win the challenge and the $500. Upon return to Peterborough, Dan who had greatly over-strained himself, died within a few days of a ruptured kidney. He died October 27, 1871, at the age of 33. (Excerpt from Peterborough Examiner by Cec Perdue.)
Daniel MacDonald is buried in Little Lake Cemetery. The following is the epitaph etched on his grave stone — “Ye weak beware, here lyes the strong. A victim to his strength. He lifted 1,600 pounds and here he lays at length.”