John MacLeod of MacLeod

John MacLeod of MacLeod, born as John Wolrige-Gordon, (10 August 1935 – 12 February 2007) was the 29th chief of Clan MacLeod. Faced with the need for expensive repairs to the clan's seat at Dunvegan Castle on the Isle of Skye, his proposed methods to raise funds caused considerable controversy. His twin brother, Patrick Wolridge-Gordon (1935–2002), was MP for East Aberdeenshire.

Biography

John MacLeod of MacLeod was born as John Wolrige-Gordon in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, on 10 August 1935. He was the elder of the twin sons of Captain Robert Wolrige-Gordon, MC and his wife Joan Walter. His younger twin brother, Patrick Wolrige-Gordon, would later become a Tory Member of Parliament.^[1] The twins had an older brother, Robert Wolrige-Gordon, who would later succeed his father as the 21st laird of Hallhead, 10th feudal baron of Esslemont.^[2]

Joan Walter's mother was the daughter of Dame Flora MacLeod of MacLeod, the 28th chief of Clan MacLeod.^[1] John Wolrige-Gordon was educated at Eton College, in England; McGill University, in Canada; and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, in England. After National Service in the Black Watch Regiment, he started a career in acting and singing.^[3] He was named heir to his grandmother in 1951, changed his surname to MacLeod of MacLeod, and was recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms as John MacLeod of MacLeod, Younger. He matriculated arms at Lyon Office in 1962.^[2] He later succeeded as chief of Clan MacLeod in 1976.^[1]

In 2000, faced with the high cost of repairs to Dunvegan Castle, his clan's seat for more than 800 years, he put the Black Cuillin range in Skye on the market for £10 million. With the proceeds of the sale, he also planned to build an 80-bedroom hotel on his Skye estate.^[1] The planned sale caused outrage at the time and was never completed.^[4]

Family

MacLeod of MacLeod married Drusilla Mary Shaw on 25 July 1961. The marriage was dissolved by divorce, without issue, on 31 March 1971. MacLeod of MacLeod also had a natural son, Stephan (born 1971).^[5] MacLeod of MacLeod secondly married Melita Kolin 19 March 1973. The couple had two children: Hugh Magnus (born 1973); and Elena Mary Nadezhda (born 1977). His second marriage was dissolved by divorce on 28 August 1992.^[6] On 27 March 2004, he married for a third time, Ulrika Thram.^[7]

Death and successor

On 12 February 2007, MacLeod of MacLeod died of leukaemia, aged 71, in London, England.^[8] His funeral was held at Duirinish Free Church of Scotland, at Dunvegan. He was buried at the ruined stone church at Kilmuir.^[9] MacLeod was succeeded by his second son, Hugh Magnus MacLeod, as 30th chief of Clan MacLeod.

Ancestry

Ancestors of John MacLeod of MacLeod, born John Wolrige-Gordon

John MacLeod of MacLeod	Father[2] Robert Wolrige-Gordon, 20th of Hallhead, 9th of Esselmont (1890–1939)	Paternal Grandfather[2] John Gordon Wolrige-Gordon, 19th of Hallhead, 8th of Esselmont (1859–1925)	Paternal Great-Grandfather:[2] Henry Perkins Wolrige (1831–1906)
			Paternal Great-grandmother:[2] Anne Gordon, 18th of Hallhead, 7th of Esselmont (d. 1874)
		Paternal Grandmother:[2] Isabel Hervey (d. 1913)	Paternal Great-Grandfather:[2] William Hervey Wodehouse
			Paternal Great-Grandmother:
	Mother:[2] Joan Walter	Maternal Grandfather:[2] Hubert Walter	Maternal Great-Grandfather:
			Maternal Great-Grandmother:
		Maternal Grandmother:[10] Dame Flora MacLeod of MacLeod (1878–1976)	Maternal Great-grandfather:[11] Sir Reginald MacLeod of MacLeod (1847–1935)
			Maternal Great-Grandmother:[12] Agnes Mary Cecilia Northcote (1848–1921)

Heraldry

Arms of John MacLeod of MacLeod

Notes The Latin motto, murus aheneus esto, translates into English as "be thou a wall of brass".[13] The 1st and 4th quarters represent the Macleod family; the 2nd and 3rd quarters represent the supposed royal Manx heritage of the clan. Adopted Lyon Office 2 June 1962. Crest: Lyon Office January 1943.[6] Crest A bull's head cabossed sable, horned Or, between two flags gules, staves of the first.[6] Escutcheon Quarterly; 1st and 4th, azure, a castles triple-towered and embattled argent, masoned sable, windows and porch gules; 2nd and 3rd, gules, three legs in armour proper, garnished and spurred Or, flexed and conjoined in triangle at the upper part of the thigh.[6] Supporters Two lions reguardant gules, armed and langued azure, each holding a dagger proper.[6] Motto Hold fast (above the crest); murus aheneus esto (on a compartment below the shield).[6]

References

1. "John MacLeod of MacLeod". www.telegraph.co.uk. 15 February 2007. Retrieved 22 November 2009.
2. Dewar, Peter Beauclerk (2001). Burke's landed gentry of Great Britain: together with members of the titled and non-titled contemporary establishment (19, illustrated ed.). Burke's Peerage & Gentry. pp. 532–533. ISBN 978-0-9711966-0-5.
3. Stourton, James (17 March 2007). "John MacLeod Of MacLeod". www.independent.co.uk. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
4. Ross, John (10 July 2003). "MacLeod 'gifts' Cuillin to public". www.news.scotsman.com. Retrieved 24 November 2009.
5. MacLeod Nicol, Nancy (2002). Tell your Children About the Stones. Keylime Press.
6. Dewar, Peter Beauclerk (2001). Burke's landed gentry of Great Britain: together with members of the titled and non-titled contemporary establishment (19, illustrated ed.). Burke's Peerage & Gentry. pp. 941–942. ISBN 978-0-9711966-0-5.
7. "Clan MacLeod Magazine", p. 73, issue No. 100, April 2005
8. "Clan MacLeod chief dies aged 71". www.news.bbc.co.uk. 14 February 2007. Retrieved 24 November 2009.
9. "Hundreds gather to mourn MacLeod chief". www.heraldscotland.com. 24 February 2007. Retrieved 24 November 2009.
10. "Dame Flora MACLEOD (XXVIII Chief)". www.macleodgenealogy.org. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
11. "Sir Reginald MACLEOD (XXVII Chief)". www.macleodgenealogy.org. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
12. "Lady Agnes Mary Cecilia NORTHCOTE". www.macleodgenealogy.org. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
13. Fairbairn, James (1883). Royal book of crests of Great Britain and Ireland, Dominion of Canada, India and Australasia : derived from best authorities and family records 1. London: James MacVeigh. p. 541.