Claim: In 1986,  Alexander Mackennal (who was born January 14, 1835 and died June 23, 1904) was chairman of the Congregational Union, which he represented in 1889 at the triannual national council of the American Congregational churches, and he became involved in the movement for free church federation in 1892.
Evidence: Alexander Mackennal (14 January 1835 – 23 June 1904) was a British Nonconformist minister. In 1886, he was chairman of the Congregational Union, which he represented in 1889 at the triannual national council of the American Congregational churches. In 1892 he became definitely associated in the public mind with a movement for free church federation which grew out of a series of meetings held to discuss the question of home reunion.