Born at Norwich, the third son of William Dalrymple, the eminent surgeon of that city, and brother of John Dalrymple (qv) and Archibald Dalrymple (qv). He was educated in Norwich, at Guy's Hospital, and in Paris. He practised in Norwich till his retirement in 1863, and was at one time Surgeon-Accoucheur to the Norwich Lying-in Charity, and Senior Surgeon to the local Hospital for Sick Children. He was also proprietor of and Surgeon to the Heigham Retreat Lunatic Asylum, and Hon Curator of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital Museum. In 1860-1861 he was Sheriff of Norwich; he was also a Magistrate and Deputy Lieutenant for Norfolk, and Chairman of the Governors of King Edward's Schools at Norwich. In 1868 he became Member of Parliament for Bath, and was thus the second MP among the Fellows, the first having been William James Clement (qv). He was chiefly remembered in the House of Commons as the promoter of the Habitual Drunkards Bill, which was based on the recommendations of the Select Committee of 1872 on Habitual Drunkards. The Bill met with considerable opposition, and its passage was delayed owing to the Government imbroglio on the Irish University question. Donald Dalrymple did not, at any rate, see the fruits of his labours, for he died suddenly on September 19th, 1873, at Coldeast, near Southampton, the seat of Count Montefiore, where he was a member of a shooting party. His photograph is in the College Collection.