James Donald was born 'near Paisley', circa 1852.

Donald commenced independent practice at 22 Caledonia Street Paisley in 1881 and quickly found his way into Liberal Party circles. He was elected to the local executive committee of the Liberal Party Association in 1886, and in the same year was commissioned to design the Paisley Liberal Club.

He designed and built his own house 'Dunraven' on Arkleston Road. He was admitted a member of the Liberal Club in 1890, served on its general committee and became its vice-president,.He also served on Paisley Town Council to which he was elected in 1886, representing the newly created 6th (Abercorn) ward until his retirement in 1912.

James Donald moved to Greenock on his retirement from the Town Council in 1914 'having received an appointment in that town'. He died there at 30 Robertson Street on 9 April 1917.

As well as the Liberal Club, he also designed Sherwood Church on Glasgow Road and laid out the design of Dunn Square. Numerous tenements in Paisley were the work of Donald, he particularly seemed to specialise in tenements with a Public House on the ground floor, such as the Afton and the Turf Tavern. YOu get the feeling that he enjoyed socialising in some of the many public houses he designed!

Dunraven, 19 Arkleston Road