James McDonnell (1763-1845) was born in Cushendun, County Antrim, and studied medicine at Edinburgh, where he graduated in 1784. When he settled in Belfast, he became one of the founders of the Royal Hospital, eventually becoming renowned as a doctor all over Ulster. He was a member of the Literary Society and a founder of the Linen Hall Library and was active in many institutions. He was a keen amateur mineralogist and geologist and an early member of the Belfast Natural History Society. Among his personal friends were Henry Joy McCracken and Wolfe Tone. He was involved with the Belfast Harp Festival of 1792.