Maclean of Ardgour

Clan MacLean (i/mækˈleɪn/; Scottish Gaelic: Mac Gill-Eain) is a Highland Scottish clan. They are one of the oldest clans in the Highlands and owned large tracts of land in Argyll as well as the Inner Hebrides. Many early MacLeans became famous for their honour, strength and courage in battle. They were involved in many clan skirmishes with the MacKinnons, Camerons, MacDonalds and Campbells. They were fierce Jacobites fighting in all of the Jacobite risings.

MacLean of Ardgour

The second branch of the Duart family, that of Ardgour, is descended from Lachlan Bronneach Maclean, the 7th Chief of Clan Maclean, by a daughter of MacEarchorn Maclean of Kingerloch. Having been born out of wedlock, Donald Maclean, 1st Laird of Ardgour. was, in consequence, brought up among his mother's people.[1]

When of age to bear arms, he was taken by his grandfather to the Castle of Ardtornish in Morvern, where MacDonald of the Isles then resided, and asked MacDonald to give him some living, as he was a promising youth.

MacMaster, Laird of Ardgour had upset MacDonald, and he took the opportunity to gain revenge by suggesting MacEarchorn and his grandson should leap the dyke where it was lowest. They took the hint, went to Ardgour, attacked MacMaster, took him and his son(s) and killed them.[2]

The Chief's eldest son had escaped and fled to Corran Ferry hoping to be taken across to the other side. However, MacGurraclaich, the ferryman, was out fishing and responded to the call to come ashore with "The 'cuddies' are taking too well to-night"). The pursuing Macleans soon caught and killed him.[2]

MacLean then killed the ferryman for his duplicity and disloyalty and hung him using his oars as a scaffold.[1]

The Macleans took immediate possession of Ardgour, which MacDonald confirmed by granting Donald a Charter, later ratified by the King.[2]

He had three sons: Ewen Maclean, 2nd Laird of Ardgour; Niall Ban Maclean, progenitor of the MacLeans of Borreray; and John Ruadh Maclean, who served as tutor during the minority of John MacAllen, grandson to his brother Ewen. Donald also had a son out of wedlock, named Gillespig, or Archibald, of whom is descended the people called Clan Ewenraoch. Donald died before 1463, and was succeeded by his son, Ewen Maclean, 2nd Laird of Ardgour.[3]

The patronymic of the family of Maclean of Ardgour is Mac Mhic Eoghainn, which means the son of the son of Hugh. The Hugh referred to in the patronymic as the eponymous of the family was killed at the battle of Bloody Bay about 1482, displaying his armorial bearings upon his galley and is the direct ancestor of the present Laird.[4]

The Maclean Lairds of Ardgour

"Mac Lean" illustration by R. R. McIan, from James Logan's The Clans of the Scottish Highlands, 1845.

Branches of Maclean of Ardgour

Ardgour House

Seat of the Macleans of Ardgour, this Georgian mansion was built in 1765. It is currently let as self-catering accommodation.[6]

A house has been established at Coull (as the site was called until the 18th century) since 1542. The present house was built in 1765 by Hugh Maclean, 12th Laird of Ardgour, and reconstructed in 1825 after extensive fire damage by Hugh's son, Alexander. The original stairwell, and possibly the stairs, survived, the remainder of the interior of the mansion dates from 1825, as does the cusped decorative cast-iron staircase balustrade with polished wooden handrail. It was then that the side wings were added, slightly set back, and extending to the rear to form a shallow U-plan court, now largely infilled.[7] The square-fronted block has dressings of honey coloured stone from Renfrewshire (where Hugh Maclean owned Williamswood).[8]

Coat of arms

On 20 July 1909, arms were matriculated in name of Alexander John Hew Maclean 16th Laird of Ardgour as follows :-Quarterly, first, Argent, a lion rampant, Gules, armed and langued Azure; second, Azure, a castle triple-towered Argent, masoned Sable, windows portcullis and flags Gules ; third, Or, a dexter hand couped fesswise Gules holding a cross crosslet fitchée Azure ; fourth, Or, a galley, sails furled, oars in saltire Sable, flagged Gules, in a sea in base Vert a salmon Argent. Above the shield is placed a helmet befitting his degree with a Mantling Gules doubled Argent, and on a Wreath of his Liveries is set for Crest a branch of laurel and cypress in saltire surmounted of a battle-axe in pale, all proper and in an Escrol over the same the motto " Altera Merces ".[4]

References

  1. 1 2 "Brief genealogical account of the Ffamily of McLean from its first settlement in the island of Mull and parts adjacent". Alexander Maclean of Ardgour. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 Description of the Highlands. Scottish History Society: Macfarlane's Geographical Collections. c. 1630.
  3. ↑ MacLean, John Patterson (1889). A History of the Clan MacLean from Its First Settlement at Duard Castle, in the Isle of Mull, to the Present Period: Including a Genealogical Account of Some of the Principal Families Together with Their Heraldry, Legends, Superstitions, etc. R. Clarke & Company.
  4. 1 2 "Maclean of Ardgour v. Maclean 1941 S.C. 613". Documents on the Lord Lyon. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  5. ↑ "The Scots Magazine and Edinburgh Literary Miscellany,". Volume 67.
  6. ↑ "Ardgour Trading Company Limited,". Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  7. ↑ "British Listed Buildings". Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  8. ↑ Miers, Mary (2008). Western Seaboard: An Illustrated Architectural Guide. Rutland Press.
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