Donald Cameron was born around 1695, although some sources suggest 1700; 1695 seems more likely as his younger brother John was born in 1698. His father John Cameron, 18th Lochiel (1663–1748) participated in the 1708 attempt, as well as the 1715 and 1719 Risings. As a result, he spent the rest of his life in exile and when Sir Ewen Cameron died in 1719, Donald became acting clan chief and was thereafter known as Lochiel.