Clan Maclean (; Scottish Gaelic: ' ) is a
Highlands
Highland is a broad term for areas of higher elevation, such as a mountain range or mountainous plateau.
Highland, Highlands, or The Highlands, may also refer to:
Places Africa
* Highlands, Johannesburg, South Africa
* Highlands, Harare, Zimbab ...
Scottish clan
A Scottish clan (from Scottish Gaelic , literally 'children', more broadly 'kindred') is a kinship group among the Scottish people. Clans give a sense of shared heritage and descent to members, and in modern times have an official structure r ...
. They are one of the oldest clans in the
Highlands
Highland is a broad term for areas of higher elevation, such as a mountain range or mountainous plateau.
Highland, Highlands, or The Highlands, may also refer to:
Places Africa
* Highlands, Johannesburg, South Africa
* Highlands, Harare, Zimbab ...
and owned large tracts of land in
Argyll
Argyll (; archaically Argyle; , ), sometimes called Argyllshire, is a Shires of Scotland, historic county and registration county of western Scotland. The county ceased to be used for local government purposes in 1975 and most of the area ...
as well as the
Inner Hebrides
The Inner Hebrides ( ; ) is an archipelago off the west coast of mainland Scotland, to the south east of the Outer Hebrides. Together these two island chains form the Hebrides, which experience a mild oceanic climate. The Inner Hebrides compri ...
. Many early Macleans became famous for their honour, strength and courage in battle. They were involved in clan skirmishes with the
Mackinnons,
Camerons,
MacDonalds and
Campbells, as well as all of the
Jacobite risings
Jacobitism was a political ideology advocating the restoration of the senior line of the House of Stuart to the Monarchy of the United Kingdom, British throne. When James II of England chose exile after the November 1688 Glorious Revolution, ...
.
History
Origins of the Clan
There are several different origins for the surname ''Maclean'', however, the clan surname is an
anglicisation
Anglicisation or anglicization is a form of cultural assimilation whereby something non-English becomes assimilated into or influenced by the culture of England. It can be sociocultural, in which a non-English place adopts the English language ...
of the
Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic (, ; Endonym and exonym, endonym: ), also known as Scots Gaelic or simply Gaelic, is a Celtic language native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a member of the Goidelic language, Goidelic branch of Celtic, Scottish Gaelic, alongs ...
. This was the
patronymic
A patronymic, or patronym, is a component of a personal name based on the given name of one's father, grandfather (more specifically an avonymic), or an earlier male ancestor. It is the male equivalent of a matronymic.
Patronymics are used, b ...
form of the
personal name
A personal name, full name or prosoponym (from Ancient Greek ''prósōpon'' – person, and ''onoma'' –name) is the set of names by which an individual person or animal is known. When taken together as a word-group, they all relate to that on ...
meaning 'Servant of
Saint John', thus 'Son of the Servant of
tJohn'.
[Way of Plean, George; Squire, Romily. (1994). ''Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia''. pp. 238–239.] The clan's rise to power began in 852 with a Papal Bull of Charter and Protection for the
Iona Abbey
Iona Abbey is an abbey located on the island of Iona, just off the Isle of Mull on the West Coast of Scotland.
It is one of the oldest History of early Christianity, Christian religious centres in Western Europe. The abbey was a focal point ...
, issued by
Pope Leo IV
Pope Leo IV (died 17 July 855) was the bishop of Rome and ruler of the Papal States from 10 April 847 to his death in 855. He is remembered for repairing Roman churches that had been damaged during the Arab raid against Rome, and for building the ...
. Marriages with
Clan MacDonald in the late 1200s,
Clan Bruce
Clan Bruce () is a Lowlands Scottish clan. It was a royal house in the 14th century, producing two kings of Scotland (Robert the Bruce and David II), and a disputed High King of Ireland, Edward Bruce.
Origins
The surname '' Bruce'' comes fro ...
in the 1300s, and
Clan MacKenzie
Clan Mackenzie ( ) is a Highland Scottish clan associated with Kintail and Ross-shire. Its chiefs trace their lineage to the 12th century, though the earliest recorded chief is Alexander Mackenzie of Kintail, who died after 1471. The clan suppo ...
in the 1400s brought Clan Maclean into the Scottish royal sphere.
Gillean of the Battleaxe
The founder of the clan was a Scottish warlord descended from the
Cenél Loairn
The Cenél Loairn, the descendants of Loarn mac Eirc, controlled parts of northern Argyll around the Firth of Lorne, most probably centred in Lorne but perhaps including the islands of Mull and Colonsay, Morvern and Ardnamurchan. The bounda ...
kindred of
Dál Riata
Dál Riata or Dál Riada (also Dalriada) () was a Gaels, Gaelic Monarchy, kingdom that encompassed the Inner Hebrides, western seaboard of Scotland and north-eastern Ireland, on each side of the North Channel (Great Britain and Ireland), North ...
, named
Gillean of the Battle Axe (1210–1263).
There are stories of Gillean being descended from the
FitzGerald dynasty
The FitzGerald dynasty is a Hiberno-Norman noble and aristocratic dynasty, originally of Cambro-Normans, Cambro-Norman and Anglo-Normans, Anglo-Norman origin. They have been Peerage of Ireland, peers of Ireland since at least the 13th centur ...
. He was a (judge) and councillor to King David I of Scots.
Gillean fought at the
Battle of Largs
The Battle of Largs (2 October 1263) was a battle between the kingdoms of Kingdom of Norway (872–1397), Norway and Kingdom of Scotland, Scotland, on the Firth of Clyde near Largs, Scotland. The conflict formed part of the Scottish–Norwegian ...
in 1263 during the Scottish–Norwegian War, in which the Scottish were victorious.
Gillean's son
Malise mac Gilleain (from the Gaelic 'Servant of Jesus') was thought by some to have taken the name Gillemor in 1263 and is also said to have led his followers at the Battle of Largs in 1263.
He wrote his name as "Gillemor Mcilyn, County of Perth" (indicating 'Gillemor Son of
ilean') on the third
Ragman Rolls
The Ragman Rolls are the collection of instruments by which the nobility and gentry of Scotland subscribed allegiance to King Edward I of England, during the time between the Conference of Norham in May 1291 and the final award in favour of Ball ...
of 1296,
swearing fealty to
Edward I of England
Edward I (17/18 June 1239 – 7 July 1307), also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots (Latin: Malleus Scotorum), was King of England from 1272 to 1307. Concurrently, he was Lord of Ireland, and from 1254 ...
.
Gillean's great-great-grandson was Iain Dhu Maclean who settled on the
Isle of Mull
The Isle of Mull or simply Mull ( ) is the second-largest island of the Inner Hebrides (after Skye) and lies off the west coast of Scotland in the Council areas of Scotland, council area of Argyll and Bute.
Covering , Mull is the fourth-lar ...
.
One of his sons was Lachainn Lubanach (Lachlan) who was the progenitor of the Macleans of Duart and the other son was Eachainn Reafanach (Hector) who was the progenitor of the
Clan Maclaine of Lochbuie.
The Macleans of Duart married into the family of
John of Islay, Lord of the Isles
John of Islay (or John MacDonald) ( or ) (died 1386) was the lord of the Isles (1336–1386) and chief of Clan Donald. In 1336, he styled himself ''Dominus Insularum'' ('Lord of the Isles'), although this was not the first ever recorded instan ...
(chief of
Clan Donald
Clan Donald, also known as Clan MacDonald or Clan McDonald ( ), is a Highland Scottish clan and one of the largest Scottish clans. Historically the chiefs of the Clan Donald held the title of Lord of the Isles until 1493 and two of those chiefs a ...
).
By the end of the 15th century, the Macleans owned the isles of
Mull,
Tiree
Tiree (; , ) is the most westerly island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The low-lying island, southwest of Coll, has an area of and a population of around 650.
The land is highly fertile, and crofting, alongside tourism, and fishing are ...
,
Islay
Islay ( ; , ) is the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Known as "The Queen of the Hebrides", it lies in Argyll and Bute just south west of Jura, Scotland, Jura and around north of the Northern Irish coast. The island's cap ...
, and
Jura, as well as the mainland provinces of
Knapdale
Knapdale (, ) forms a rural district of Argyll and Bute in the Scottish Highlands, adjoining Kintyre to the south, and divided from the rest of Argyll to the north by the Crinan Canal. It includes two parishes, North Knapdale and South Knapdale. ...
and
Morvern in
Argyll
Argyll (; archaically Argyle; , ), sometimes called Argyllshire, is a Shires of Scotland, historic county and registration county of western Scotland. The county ceased to be used for local government purposes in 1975 and most of the area ...
, and
Lochaber
Lochaber ( ; ) is a name applied to a part of the Scottish Highlands. Historically, it was a provincial lordship consisting of the parishes of Kilmallie and Kilmonivaig. Lochaber once extended from the Northern shore of Loch Leven, a distric ...
in what was later
Inverness-shire
Inverness-shire () or the County of Inverness, is a Counties of Scotland, historic county in Scotland. It is named after Inverness, its largest settlement, which was also the county town. Covering much of the Scottish Highlands, Highlands and s ...
.
Wars of Scottish Independence
The Clan Maclean are said to have fought in support of Robert the Bruce at the
Battle of Bannockburn
The Battle of Bannockburn ( or ) was fought on 23–24 June 1314, between the army of Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, and the army of King Edward II of England, during the First War of Scottish Independence. It was a decisive victory for Ro ...
in 1314.
The Early Macleans at Duart
By the 14th century, the Clan Maclean had become a dominant force in the Western Isles. In about 1364 Lachlan Lùbanach Maclean (1325-1405) of Duart, 5th Chief, solidified the Maclean alliance with the Macdonalds through marriage. His bride, Mary Macdonald, was not only the daughter of John Macdonald, first Lord of the Isles, but also the granddaughter of Robert II, King of Scots. The families were close enough related that the approval of the church was sought. The papal dispensation issued by Pope Urban V on 3 May of 1367 approving the already consummated marriage is the first mention of a Maclean in any official records.. The papal dispensation blessed the marriage retroactively as insurance that it could not be annulled for political purposes. Mary's marriage dowry included Duart Castle and much of Mull. Lachlan Lùbanach also was granted the hereditary position of Lieutenant-General of the Isles. He was recognized as the superior Maclean on Mull by the Lord of the Isles. Hector (1328-1407), his younger brother, was in the late 1300s given Lochbuie by the Lord of the Isles.
[Collins, Ronald W., ''The Genealogy of the Clan MacLean'']
Fifteenth century and clan conflicts
During the 14th and 15th century many battles were fought between the Clan Maclean and
Clan Mackinnon
Clan MacKinnon ( ) is a Scottish Highlands, Highland Scottish clan from the islands of Isle of Mull, Mull and Skye, in the Inner Hebrides.
Popular tradition gives the clan a Dal Riada, Dalriadic Gaelic origin. The 19th-century historian W. F. S ...
.
Battle of Harlaw
In 1411, Clan Maclean fought with Donald Macdonald, Lord of the Isles, to claim the earldom of Ross, which was his by right of his wife, Mariota Leslie, countess of Ross. Robert Stewart, the ambitious the Duke of Albany, had denied Donald's claim because he wanted Ross for himself. (The young King of Scots, James I, was being held prisoner of the English king, Henry IV, and Albany did nothing to seek his release.) The
Battle of Harlaw took place near Inverurie in Aberdeenshire on 24 July 1411 against a mounted army of knights led by Alexander Stewart,
Earl of Mar
There are currently two earldoms of Mar in the Peerage of Scotland, and the title has been created seven times. The first creation of the earldom is currently held by Margaret of Mar, 31st Countess of Mar, who is also clan chief of Clan Mar. Th ...
. The Macleans were led by Hector Roy Maclean, "Red Hector of the Battles", the 6th Chief, and nephew of Donald Macdonald. Hector commanded the right flank of Donald Macdonald's army. Hector engaged in single combat with the chief of
Clan Irvine
Clan Irvine is a Scottish clan.Way, George and Squire, Romily. ''Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia''. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs). Published in 1994. Pages 174 – ...
, Sir Alexander Irvine.
After a legendary struggle both died of the wounds inflicted upon each other.
=Origins of the Macleans of the North (Clan Tearlach)
=
Tearlach
harles
Gottlieb Christoph Harless (originally Harles) (21 June 1738 – 2 November 1815) was a German classical scholar and bibliographer.
Biography
He was born at Culmbach in Bavaria. He studied at the universities of Halle, Erlangen and Jena. In ...
Maclean, eldest son of Hector Maclean, 1st of Lochbuie, brother of Lachlan Maclean, 1st of Duart. Tearlach was part of the vanguard but following this battle, he sought protection within the
Clan Chattan Confederation. His son Hector subsequently married a daughter of the Chief of the Mackintoshes. Despite the active support of Clan Chattan, these Macleans lost ownership of
Urquhart Castle
Urquhart Castle ( ; ) is a ruined castle that sits beside Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands, Highlands of Scotland. The castle is on the A82 road, southwest of Inverness and east of Drumnadrochit.
The present ruins date from the 13th to t ...
by 1509, and settled nearby at
Dochgarroch, though they still managed to lease much of Urquhart. In 1609 Alexander Maclean of Dochgarroch signed the Clan Chattan Bond.
Battle of Corpach
The
Battle of Corpach took place in 1439. It was fought between the Clan Maclean and the
Clan Cameron
Clan Cameron is a West Scottish Highlands, Highland Scottish clan, with one main branch Lochiel, and numerous cadet branches. The Clan Cameron lands are in Lochaber, and within their lands lies Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the British Isl ...
.
Battle of Bloody Bay
In 1484 the Clan Maclean fought at the
Battle of Bloody Bay on the side of the
Lord of the Isles
Lord of the Isles or King of the Isles
( or ; ) is a title of nobility in the Baronage of Scotland with historical roots that go back beyond the Kingdom of Scotland. It began with Somerled in the 12th century and thereafter the title was ...
, chief of
Clan Donald
Clan Donald, also known as Clan MacDonald or Clan McDonald ( ), is a Highland Scottish clan and one of the largest Scottish clans. Historically the chiefs of the Clan Donald held the title of Lord of the Isles until 1493 and two of those chiefs a ...
.
In 1493 the Lordship of the Isles was abolished and Duart and Lochbuie Macleans held their lands by charter directly from the king, thus Lochbuie became a clan independent of Duart.
Sixteenth century and the Anglo-Scottish Wars
In 1513 during the
Anglo-Scottish Wars
The Anglo-Scottish Wars comprise the various battles which continued to be fought between the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland from the time of the Wars of Independence in the early 14th century through to the latter years of the ...
, Lachlan Maclean of Duart was killed at the
Battle of Flodden
The Battle of Flodden, Flodden Field, or occasionally Branxton or Brainston Moor was fought on 9 September 1513 during the War of the League of Cambrai between the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland and resulted in an English victory ...
.
The clan extended its influence to other Hebridean islands such as Tiree and Islay and onto the mainland.
In 1560 the Clan Maclean, joined by their allies the
Clan Mackay
Clan Mackay ( ; ) is an ancient and once-powerful Scottish Highlands, Highland Scottish clan from the far north of the Scottish Highlands, but with roots in the old Mormaer of Moray, Kingdom of Moray.
They supported Robert I of Scotland, Rober ...
and
Clan MacLeod
Clan MacLeod ( ; ) is a Scottish Highlands, Highland Scottish clan associated with the Isle of Skye. There are two main branches of the clan: the MacLeods of Harris, Outer Hebrides, Harris and Dunvegan, known in Gaelic as ' ("seed of Tormod") an ...
became part of the
Gallowglass, who were ferocious mercenaries of
Norse-Gaelic descent who served in Ireland for the chief of Tyrone,
Shane O'Neill.
The rising power of the
Clan Campbell
Clan Campbell ( ) is a Scottish Highlands, Highland Scottish clan, historically one of the largest and most powerful of the Highland clans. The Clan Campbell lands are in Argyll and within their lands lies Ben Cruachan. The chief of the clan be ...
during the sixteenth century brought them into opposition with the Macleans.
Several marriages were arranged between Macleans and Campbells to avoid feuding, however one of these went badly wrong when chief
Lachlan Maclean Lachlan Maclean may refer to:
* Lachlan Lubanach Maclean (c.1350–c.1405), 5th Clan Chief of Clan Maclean
* Lachlan Bronneach Maclean (fl. 1470s), 7th Clan Chief of Clan Maclean
* Lachlan Og Maclean (c. 1432–1484), 8th Clan Chief of Clan Maclean ...
married Lady Elizabeth Campbell, daughter of the
Earl of Argyll
Earl () is a rank of the nobility in the United Kingdom. In modern Britain, an earl is a member of the peerage, ranking below a marquess and above a viscount. A feminine form of ''earl'' never developed; instead, ''countess'' is used.
The titl ...
, chief of Clan Campbell.
The match was not a happy one and Maclean took drastic action by marooning his wife on a rock in the sea, leaving her to drown.
However she was rescued by some passing fishermen who took her back to her kin and Maclean was later killed by her brother in
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh ...
in 1523.
The
Battle of the Western Isles was fought in 1586, on the island of
Jura, between the
Clan MacDonald of Sleat and the Clan Maclean.
['Conflicts of the Clans' published in 1764 by the Foulis press, written from a manuscript wrote in the reign of James VI of Scotland.] In 1588 the Clan Maclean attempted to capture
Mingarry Castle seat of the chief of the
Clan MacDonald of Ardnamurchan, using Spanish mercenaries from the
San Juan de Sicilia.
One thing that did unite the Macleans and the Campbells was their Protestant faith as well as their dislike for the MacDonalds.
Sir Lachland Maclean harried the MacDonalds of Islay causing so much carnage that both he and the MacDonald chief were declared outlaws in 1594 by the Privy Council.
However Lachlan redeemed himself when in the same year he fought for the king at the
Battle of Glenlivet
The Battle of Glenlivet was a Scottish clan battle fought on 3 October 1594 near Glenlivet, Moray, Scotland. It was fought between Protestant forces loyal to King James VI of Scotland who were commanded by Archibald Campbell, 7th Earl of Arg ...
,
on the side of the Earl of Argyll and Clan Campbell, against the
Earl of Huntly
Marquess of Huntly is a title in the Peerage of Scotland that was created on 17 April 1599 for George Gordon, 6th Earl of Huntly. It is the oldest existing marquessate in Scotland, and the second-oldest in the British Isles; only the English ma ...
and
Clan Gordon
Clan Gordon is a Scottish Highlands, Highland Scottish clan, historically one of the most powerful Scottish clans. The Gordon lands once spanned a large territory across the Highlands. Presently, Gordon is seated at Aboyne Castle, Aberdeenshire ...
.
Sir Lachlan Mor Maclean
The
Battle of Traigh Ghruinneart took place on 5 August 1598. It was fought between the Clan Donald and Clan Maclean on the
Isle of Islay. Chief
Sir Lachlan Mor Maclean
Sir Lachlan Mór Maclean (1558 – 5 August 1598) or Big Lachlan Maclean, was the 14th Clan Chief of Clan MacLean from late 1573 or early 1574 until 1598.
Mór or Mor translates as ''big'' in English, or ''magnus'' in Latin, when added to a name ...
was killed.
After Sir Lachlan Maclean's death in 1598, his sons took revenge on his suspected murderers, the MacDonalds, by carrying out a massacre of the people of Islay which lasted for three days. After obtaining "
Letters of Fire and Sword" he was assisted in this by the MacLeods, MacNeils, and Camerons. The quarrel between the Macleans and the Macdonalds of Islay and Kintyre was, at the outset, merely a dispute as to the right of occupancy of the crown lands called the
Rinns of Islay, but it soon involved these tribes in a long and bloody feud, and eventually led to the near destruction of them both. The Macleans, who were in possession, claimed to hold the lands in dispute as tenants of the crown, but the privy council decided that Macdonald of Islay was really the crown tenant.
Seventeenth century and Civil War

On 3 September 1631
Sir Lachlan Maclean created a
Baronet of Nova Scotia
This is a list of baronetcies in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia. These were first created in 1624, and were replaced by the Baronetage of Great Britain in 1707.
This page lists baronetcies, whether extant, extinct, dormant (D), unproven (U), ...
.
Later during the
Scottish Civil War he was devoted to
Charles I of England
Charles I (19 November 1600 – 30 January 1649) was King of Kingdom of England, England, Kingdom of Scotland, Scotland, and Kingdom of Ireland, Ireland from 27 March 1625 until Execution of Charles I, his execution in 1649.
Charles was born ...
and called out his clan to fight for
James Graham, 1st Marquis of Montrose
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose (1612 – 21 May 1650) was a Scottish nobleman, poet, soldier and later viceroy and captain general of Scotland. Montrose initially joined the Covenanters in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, but subseq ...
who was the king's captain general.
The Clan Maclean fought as royalists at the
Battle of Inverlochy (1645)
The Battle of Inverlochy occurred on 2 February 1645, during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, when a Cavalier, Royalist force of Highlanders and Confederate Ireland, Confederate Irish troops under the overall command of James Graham, 1st Ma ...
,
Battle of Auldearn
The Battle of Auldearn was an engagement of the Scotland in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It took place on 9 May 1645, in and around the village of Auldearn in Nairnshire. It resulted in a victory for the royalis ...
and
Battle of Kilsyth
The Battle of Kilsyth, fought on 15 August 1645 near Kilsyth, was an engagement of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. The largest battle of the conflict in Scotland, it resulted in victory for the Royalist general Montrose over the forces of ...
, alongside men from
Clan MacDonald, and other allies from Ireland raised by
Alasdair MacColla. Their enemy was the Scottish Argyll government forces of
Clan Campbell
Clan Campbell ( ) is a Scottish Highlands, Highland Scottish clan, historically one of the largest and most powerful of the Highland clans. The Clan Campbell lands are in Argyll and within their lands lies Ben Cruachan. The chief of the clan be ...
, led by
Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll
Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll (March 160727 May 1661) was a Scottish nobleman, politician, and peer. The ''de facto'' head of Scotland's government during most of the conflict of the 1640s and 1650s known as the Wars of the Three K ...
. Through cunning tactics the Royalist force of 1500 MacDonalds and Macleans defeated the Argyll Campbell force of 3000.
In 1647 the Maclean's Duart Castle was attacked and laid siege to by the Argyll government troops of
Clan Campbell
Clan Campbell ( ) is a Scottish Highlands, Highland Scottish clan, historically one of the largest and most powerful of the Highland clans. The Clan Campbell lands are in Argyll and within their lands lies Ben Cruachan. The chief of the clan be ...
, but they were defeated and driven off by the royalist troops of Clan Maclean. The
Battle of Inverkeithing
The Battle of Inverkeithing was fought on 20 July 1651 between an English army under John Lambert and a Scottish army led by James Holborne as part of an English invasion of Scotland. The battle was fought near the isthmus of the Ferry ...
took place in 1651 where Sir Hector Maclean, 18th chief was killed.
Archibald Campbell the 9th Earl, son of the Marquess of Argyll, invaded the Clan Maclean lands on the
Isle of Mull
The Isle of Mull or simply Mull ( ) is the second-largest island of the Inner Hebrides (after Skye) and lies off the west coast of Scotland in the Council areas of Scotland, council area of Argyll and Bute.
Covering , Mull is the fourth-lar ...
and garrisoned Duart Castle in 1678. The Campbells had control of Duart and most of the Maclean estates by 1679.
When the Stuarts again called for support the Macleans hurried to their standard and Sir John Maclean, fifth Baronet fought at the
Battle of Killiecrankie
The Battle of Killiecrankie, also known as the Battle of Rinrory, took place on 27 July 1689 during the Jacobite rising of 1689, 1689 Scottish Jacobite rising. An outnumbered Jacobitism, Jacobite force under Ewan Cameron of Lochiel, Sir Ewen Ca ...
in 1689,
in support of
John Graham, 1st Viscount of Dundee.
Eighteenth century and the Jacobite risings
The Clan Maclean supported the
Jacobite rising of 1715
The Jacobite rising of 1715 ( ;
or 'the Fifteen') was the attempt by James Francis Edward Stuart, James Edward Stuart (the Old Pretender) to regain the thrones of Kingdom of England, England, Kingdom of Ireland, Ireland and Kingdom of Scotland ...
and their chief, Sir Hector Maclean, was created Lord Maclean in the
Jacobite peerage
The Jacobite peerage includes those peerages created by James II and VII, and the subsequent Jacobite pretenders, after James's deposition from the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland following the Glorious Revolution of 1688. These creati ...
in 1716.
However, the chief was exiled to France, where he founded, and was the first Grand Master of, the Grand Lodge of Freemasons in Paris.
General Wade
Field marshal (United Kingdom), Field Marshal George Wade (1673 – 14 March 1748) was a British Army officer and politician who served in the Nine Years' War, War of the Spanish Succession, Jacobite rising of 1715 and War of the Quadruple Al ...
's report on the Highlands in 1724, estimated the clan strength at 150 men. Hector returned for the
Jacobite rising of 1745
The Jacobite rising of 1745 was an attempt by Charles Edward Stuart to regain the Monarchy of Great Britain, British throne for his father, James Francis Edward Stuart. It took place during the War of the Austrian Succession, when the bulk of t ...
but was captured and imprisoned in the
Tower of London
The Tower of London, officially His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic citadel and castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamle ...
until 1747.
He died in 1750 in Rome.
During the rising of 1745 the clan had been led by Maclean of Drimmin who was killed at the
Battle of Culloden
The Battle of Culloden took place on 16 April 1746, near Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. A Jacobite army under Charles Edward Stuart was decisively defeated by a British government force commanded by the Duke of Cumberland, thereby endi ...
.
Duart Castle then fell into ruin.
After the defeat of the Jacobites, the Macleans then served Great Britain with distinction.
From that time onwards, all of the chiefs have been soldiers. Sir Fitzroy Maclean, the tenth Baronet, fought at the
Battle of Sevastopol.
Allan Maclean of Torloisk fought at the
Battle of Culloden
The Battle of Culloden took place on 16 April 1746, near Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. A Jacobite army under Charles Edward Stuart was decisively defeated by a British government force commanded by the Duke of Cumberland, thereby endi ...
. He later commanded the
84th Regiment of Foot (Royal Highland Emigrants) in the
Battle of Quebec.
Allan McLane
Allan McLane (August 8, 1746 – May 22, 1829) was an officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He was appointed as the first United States Marshal of Delaware in 1789, and as United States Customs Service, Customs Col ...
served in the American Revolution.
Castles

Castles that have been held by the Clan Maclean have included amongst others:
*
Duart Castle
Duart Castle, or ''Caisteal Dhubhairt'' in Scottish Gaelic, is a castle on the Isle of Mull, beside the Sound of Mull off the west coast of Scotland, within the council area of Argyll and Bute. The castle dates back to the 13th century and i ...
on the
Isle of Mull
The Isle of Mull or simply Mull ( ) is the second-largest island of the Inner Hebrides (after Skye) and lies off the west coast of Scotland in the Council areas of Scotland, council area of Argyll and Bute.
Covering , Mull is the fourth-lar ...
is the historic seat of the chiefs of the Clan Maclean.
The castle is perched on a rock guarding the
Sound of Mull.
Dating from the thirteenth century it consists of a strong curtain wall as well as a substantial tower or keep that was added in about 1390.
There are also later ranges that were built within the courtyard.
Duart Castle was abandoned after the
Jacobite rising of 1745
The Jacobite rising of 1745 was an attempt by Charles Edward Stuart to regain the Monarchy of Great Britain, British throne for his father, James Francis Edward Stuart. It took place during the War of the Austrian Succession, when the bulk of t ...
and it then became derelict and roofless.
However, in 1911 it was acquired by
Sir Fitzroy Maclean, 10th Baronet, chief of Clan Maclean who restored it.
The castle is still owned by the Macleans of Duart although they now live in
Perthshire
Perthshire (Scottish English, locally: ; ), officially the County of Perth, is a Shires of Scotland, historic county and registration county in central Scotland. Geographically it extends from Strathmore, Angus and Perth & Kinross, Strathmore ...
.
The castle is open to the public in the summer.
The exterior of Duart Castle was used in the film "
Entrapment
Entrapment is a practice in which a law enforcement agent or an agent of the state induces a person to commit a crime that the person would have otherwise been unlikely or unwilling to commit.''Sloane'' (1990) 49 A Crim R 270. See also agent prov ...
" with Catherine Zeta-Jones and
Sean Connery
Sir Thomas Sean Connery (25 August 1930 – 31 October 2020) was a Scottish actor. He was the first actor to Portrayal of James Bond in film, portray the fictional British secret agent James Bond (literary character), James Bond in motion pic ...
, whose mother, Euphemia McBain "Effie" – née McLean – was a Maclean.
*Ardgour House, built in 1765, lies on the shores of
Loch Linnhe
Loch Linnhe ( ) is a sea loch in the Highland Council area, in the west of Scotland. The part upstream of Corran is known in Gaelic as (the black pool, originally known as Loch Abar), and downstream as (the salty pool). The name ''Linnhe ...
on land wreasted from the McMasters in the 1430's. The first
Maclean of Ardgour, ‘Strong Donald the Hunter’, was the son of the 7th Chief of Clan Maclean from Duart on Mull. Ewan Maclean, 2nd of Ardgour was killed at the
Battle of Bloody Bay in about 1482.
They followed
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose (1612 – 21 May 1650) was a Scottish nobleman, poet, soldier and later viceroy and captain general of Scotland. Montrose initially joined the Covenanters in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, but subsequ ...
, but Allen, the seventh lord was pardoned.
The Ardgour Macleans did not take part in the Jacobite risings and now live at Salachan at Ardgour.
Sold by the Macleans in 1996, Ardgour House is currently let as self-catering accommodation
*
Aros Castle
Aros Castle, also known as ''Dounarwyse Castle'', is a ruined 13th-century castle near Salen on the Isle of Mull, Scotland. The castle overlooks the Sound of Mull. History
The castle was probably built by one of the MacDougall lords of Lorn in ...
on the Isle of Mull,
Argyll
Argyll (; archaically Argyle; , ), sometimes called Argyllshire, is a Shires of Scotland, historic county and registration county of western Scotland. The county ceased to be used for local government purposes in 1975 and most of the area ...
was originally built by the
Clan MacDougall
Clan MacDougall is a Highland Scottish clan, historically based in and around Argyll. The Lord Lyon King of Arms, the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry in Scotland, issuing new grants of coats of arms, and serving as ...
, was then held by the
Clan Donald
Clan Donald, also known as Clan MacDonald or Clan McDonald ( ), is a Highland Scottish clan and one of the largest Scottish clans. Historically the chiefs of the Clan Donald held the title of Lord of the Isles until 1493 and two of those chiefs a ...
,
Lord of the Isles
Lord of the Isles or King of the Isles
( or ; ) is a title of nobility in the Baronage of Scotland with historical roots that go back beyond the Kingdom of Scotland. It began with Somerled in the 12th century and thereafter the title was ...
before passing to the Macleans after 1493.
*Aros Castle, Glengarrisdale, on the island of
Jura, was held by the Macleans who came into possession of the north part of Jura.
The southern part of Jura was originally held by the MacDonalds but by 1620 had passed to the
Clan Campbell
Clan Campbell ( ) is a Scottish Highlands, Highland Scottish clan, historically one of the largest and most powerful of the Highland clans. The Clan Campbell lands are in Argyll and within their lands lies Ben Cruachan. The chief of the clan be ...
who complained that they were being harassed by the Macleans.
This resulted in a battle in 1647 when the Campbells surprised the Macleans at Glen Garrisdale and killed many of them.
There is a tradition that the severed head and two limb bones of one of the Macleans adorned a cairn near Maclean's Skull Cave.
The castle was still in use when in 1690 the Campbell constable took action against the Macleans who had not taken the Oath of Allegiance to
William of Orange.
*
Breachacha Castle, on the island of
Coll
Coll (; )Mac an Tàilleir (2003) p. 31 is an island located west of the Isle of Mull and northeast of Tiree in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Coll is known for its sandy beaches, which rise to form large sand dunes, for its corncrakes, and fo ...
, was held by the MacDonalds, then the
Clan MacNeil
Clan MacNeil, also known in Scotland as Clan Niall, is a Scottish Highlands, highland Scottish clan of Irish people, Irish origin. According to their early genealogies and some sources they're descended from Eógan mac Néill and Niall of the Ni ...
and then by the Macleans.
In 1431 it was seized by Maclean of Coll, but they feuded with the Macleans of Duart, who in 1578 captured the castle.
In 1679 Donald Maclean of Coll garrisoned it against the Clan Campbell chief, the
Earl of Argyll
Earl () is a rank of the nobility in the United Kingdom. In modern Britain, an earl is a member of the peerage, ranking below a marquess and above a viscount. A feminine form of ''earl'' never developed; instead, ''countess'' is used.
The titl ...
.
New Breachacha Castle was built nearby in 1750 and the old castle then became ruinous.
Dr
Johnston and
Boswell visited the castle in 1773.
In 1886 the old castle had passed to the Stewarts of Glenbuchie but it was bought by a descendant of the Macleans in 1965.
*
Cairnburgh Castle,
Treshnish Isles, Argyll, was originally held by the MacDougalls, then the MacDonalds and then by the Macleans of Duart.
One story is that the chief Maclean of Duart imprisoned the chief of the
Clan Maclaine of Lochbuie in the castle to prevent him producing an heir and that Maclanie's only female companion was an old, not overly pleasing woman, whom he made pregnant.
Maclaine was murdered but the woman escaped giving birth to a son who recovered Lochbuie.
In 1504
James IV of Scotland
James IV (17 March 1473 – 9 September 1513) was List of Scottish monarchs, King of Scotland from 11 June 1488 until his death at the Battle of Flodden in 1513. He inherited the throne at the age of fifteen on the death of his father, James I ...
had the castle besieged when it was held by Lachlan Maclean.
In 1647 the castle surrendered to the
Covenanter
Covenanters were members of a 17th-century Scottish religious and political movement, who supported a Presbyterian Church of Scotland and the primacy of its leaders in religious affairs. It originated in disputes with James VI and his son C ...
General,
David Leslie, 1st Lord Newark
David Leslie, 1st Lord Newark ( – ) was a Scottish military officer and peer. During the Thirty Years' War, he joined in the Swedish Army in 1630 and served under Alexander Leslie. Returning to Scotland in the final days of the Bishops' War ...
, and in the 1650s many of the books and records that had been rescued from
Iona
Iona (; , sometimes simply ''Ì'') is an island in the Inner Hebrides, off the Ross of Mull on the western coast of Scotland. It is mainly known for Iona Abbey, though there are other buildings on the island. Iona Abbey was a centre of Gaeli ...
were destroyed in a siege by
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English statesman, politician and soldier, widely regarded as one of the most important figures in British history. He came to prominence during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, initially ...
's forces.
The castle held out against attacks by the Campbells in 1679 but was surrendered in 1692.
The castle was garrisoned during both the
Jacobite rising of 1715
The Jacobite rising of 1715 ( ;
or 'the Fifteen') was the attempt by James Francis Edward Stuart, James Edward Stuart (the Old Pretender) to regain the thrones of Kingdom of England, England, Kingdom of Ireland, Ireland and Kingdom of Scotland ...
and 1745.
*Caisteal nan Con, ''(castle of dogs)'' near
Lochaline, was held by the Macleans of Duart and is said to have been used as a hunting lodge by those occupying Aros Castle.
*Caisteal nan Con,
Isle of Torsa, originally held by the Campbells, then the MacDougalls and then the Macleans.
It was probably also a hunting lodge.
*Castle Loch Heylipol,
Tiree
Tiree (; , ) is the most westerly island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The low-lying island, southwest of Coll, has an area of and a population of around 650.
The land is highly fertile, and crofting, alongside tourism, and fishing are ...
, was originally held by the MacDonalds and then by the Macleans, who were besieged in it by the Campbells in 1678–79.
*Castle Spioradain, near
Inverness
Inverness (; ; from the , meaning "Mouth of the River Ness") is a city in the Scottish Highlands, having been granted city status in 2000. It is the administrative centre for The Highland Council and is regarded as the capital of the Highland ...
, site of a castle formerly on an island that was held by the Macleans of Dochgarroch in around 1420.
The name means ''castle of spirits'' and the story goes that during a feud between the Macleans and the
Clan Cameron
Clan Cameron is a West Scottish Highlands, Highland Scottish clan, with one main branch Lochiel, and numerous cadet branches. The Clan Cameron lands are in Lochaber, and within their lands lies Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the British Isl ...
, several Camerons were executed and their bodies were hung from the walls.
The ghosts of the dead are said to have terrorised the castle and the area.
The site was destroyed when the
Caledonian Canal
The Caledonian Canal connects the Scottish east coast at Inverness with the west coast at Corpach near Fort William in Scotland. The canal was constructed in the early nineteenth century by Scottish engineer Thomas Telford.
Route
The can ...
was built and human bones were found.
*Dochgarroch, near Inverness, site of a castle held from the sixteenth century by the Macleans who were known as the ''Clan Tearlach'' and who were allied to the
Chattan Confederation
Clan Chattan ( or ), also sometimes referred to as "Clan Dhugaill" (Quehele) after its progenitor Dougall-Dall, is a unique confederation of Highland clans. This distinctive allied community comprised at its greatest extent seventeen separate ...
.
This clan of Macleans fought as Jacobites at the
Battle of Killiecrankie
The Battle of Killiecrankie, also known as the Battle of Rinrory, took place on 27 July 1689 during the Jacobite rising of 1689, 1689 Scottish Jacobite rising. An outnumbered Jacobitism, Jacobite force under Ewan Cameron of Lochiel, Sir Ewen Ca ...
in 1689 and the
Battle of Sheriffmuir
The Battle of Sheriffmuir (, ) was an engagement in 1715 at the height of the Jacobite rising of 1715, Jacobite rising in Scotland. The battlefield has been included in the Inventory of Historic Battlefields in Scotland and protected by Histor ...
in 1715.
This line now live near
Glen Urquhart
Glenurquhart or Glen Urquhart () is a glen running to the west of the village of Drumnadrochit in the Highland (council area), Highland Council areas of Scotland, council area of Scotland.
Location
Glenurquhart runs from Loch Ness at Urqu ...
and also near
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh ...
.
*Drimnin Castle, near Lochline, Highland, site of a castle held by the Macleans of Coll in the sixteenth century, but was demolished in the 1830s.
Maclean of Drimin led the clan during the
Jacobite rising of 1745
The Jacobite rising of 1745 was an attempt by Charles Edward Stuart to regain the Monarchy of Great Britain, British throne for his father, James Francis Edward Stuart. It took place during the War of the Austrian Succession, when the bulk of t ...
and he was killed at the
Battle of Culloden
The Battle of Culloden took place on 16 April 1746, near Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. A Jacobite army under Charles Edward Stuart was decisively defeated by a British government force commanded by the Duke of Cumberland, thereby endi ...
.
*
Dun Chonnuill Castle, on one of the
Garvellachs, Argyll, is a ruinous castle that was originally held by the MacDougalls, then the MacDonalds and then by the Macleans who now live at Strachur House in Argyll and are hereditary keepers and captains of Dunconnel.
*Eilean Amalaig Castle, Isle of Mull, is where the Macleans of Duart marshaled their
birlinn
The birlinn () or West Highland galley was a wooden vessel propelled by sail and oar, used extensively in the Hebrides and West Highlands of Scotland from the Middle Ages on. Variants of the name in English and Scots language, Lowland Scots inc ...
s or galleys.
*
Glensanda Castle, near Lochaline is a ruinous castle that was originally held by the MacMasters but passed to the Macleans in the fifteenth century.
*
Gorm Castle or Loch Gorm Castle on the
Isle of Islay was originally held by the MacDonalds and then briefly by the Macleans.
The castle and island later passed to the Campbells and was still in use in 1745, but is now very ruinous.
*
Kinlochaline Castle, near Lochaline, was originally held by the
Clan MacInnes but passed to the Macleans after the MacInnes chief was murdered along with his sons by the
Clan Mackinnon
Clan MacKinnon ( ) is a Scottish Highlands, Highland Scottish clan from the islands of Isle of Mull, Mull and Skye, in the Inner Hebrides.
Popular tradition gives the clan a Dal Riada, Dalriadic Gaelic origin. The 19th-century historian W. F. S ...
.
*
Strachur Castle in Argyll was later replaced by Strachur House and is now occupied by the Macleans of Dunconnel, heredary keepers of
Dun Chonnuill Castle.
They were made Baronets in 1957.
*
Tarbert Castle,
Tarbert, Argyll and Bute, although a royal castle the lands were held by the
Clan MacAlister and then by the Macleans.
*
Torloisk House, on the Isle of Mull, Argyll was held by the
Macleans of Torloisk.
Clan Chiefs
Chief
*
Sir Lachlan Hector Charles Maclean of Duart and Morvern Bt, CVO, Deputy Lieutenant of Argyll and Bute, 28th Clan Chief and 12th
Baronet of Morvern.
Chieftains
*Robin Maclean of Ardgour
*The Very Rev Canon Allan M. Maclean of Dochgarroch
*Sir Charles Edward Maclean of Dunconnel Bt, 2nd Baronet of Strachur and Glensluain, Baron Strachur, and 16th Hereditary Keeper and Captain of Dunconnel in the Isles of The Sea
*Nicolas Maclean of Pennycross
*Richard Compton Maclean of Torloisk
*Malcolm Fraser Maclean of Kingairloch
Septs
Septs are family names associated with a particular clan. Other family names associated with the clan include Auchaneson, Beath, Beaton, Black, Clanachan, Dowart, Dowie, Duart, Duie, Garvie, Gillan, Gillon, Gilzean, Hoey, Huie, Lane, Lean, Leitch, MacBeath, MacBeth, MacBheath, MacCormick, MacEachan, Macfadin, MacFadyen, Macfadzean, Macfergan, Macgeachan, MacGilvra, Macildowie, Macilduy, Macilvera, MacKlin, MacLergain, Maclergan, MacPhaiden, MacRankin, MacVeagh, MacVey, Paden, Patten, Rankin, and Rankine.
Clan profile
Symbols
Members of Clan Maclean show their allegiance to their clan and their chief by wearing a
crest badge which bears the
heraldic crest
A crest is a component of a heraldic display, consisting of the device borne on top of the helm. Originating in the decorative sculptures worn by knights in tournaments and, to a lesser extent, battles, crests became solely pictorial after t ...
and
heraldic motto
A motto (derived from the Latin , 'mutter', by way of Italian , 'word' or 'sentence') is a sentence or phrase expressing a belief or purpose, or the general motivation or intention of an individual, family, social group, or organization. Mot ...
of the
clan chief
The Scottish Gaelic word means children. In early times, and possibly even today, Scottish clan members believed themselves to descend from a common ancestor, the founder of the clan, after whom the clan is named. The clan chief (''ceannard ci ...
. The
blazon
In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct an accurate image. The verb ''to blazon'' means to create such a description. The visual d ...
of the heraldic crest within a clan members crest badge is ''A tower embattled
Argent
In heraldry, argent () is the tincture of silver, and belongs to the class of light tinctures called "metals". It is very frequently depicted as white and usually considered interchangeable with it. In engravings and line drawings, regions to b ...
''. The heraldic motto upon the crest badge is VIRTUE MINE HONOUR.
Long before crest badges were used by members of clans, it is said that plants were used as badges. These clan badges consisted of plants and were worn in bonnets in addition to being used as a banner and attached to a pole or spear. The clan badge attributed to Clan Maclean is
Crowberry.
There are two
slogans
A slogan is a memorable motto or phrase used in a clan or a political slogan, political, Advertising slogan, commercial, religious, or other context as a repetitive expression of an idea or purpose, with the goal of persuading members of the pu ...
attributed to Clan Maclean. Slogans, are sometimes said to be
war cries, other times they are said to be rallying points for the clan. Slogans used by clans generally appear as a second motto within the chiefs
arms
Arms or ARMS may refer to:
*Arm or arms, the upper limbs of the body
Arm, Arms, or ARMS may also refer to:
People
* Ida A. T. Arms (1856–1931), American missionary-educator, temperance leader
Coat of arms or weapons
*Armaments or weapons
**Fi ...
. Slogans of Clan Maclean include: ''Bàs no Beatha'' (from Scottish Gaelic: "Death or life") and ''Fear eile airson Eachann'' (from Scottish Gaelic: "Another for Hector").
["Another for Hector"]
Maclean Arms
See also
*
Maclean baronets
*
Notable Macleans
*
Ardgour
Ardgour () ( ; meaning ''high place of goats'') is an area of the Scottish Highlands on the western shore of Loch Linnhe. It lies north of the district of Morvern and east of the district of Sunart. Administratively it is now part of the wa ...
*
Duart Castle
Duart Castle, or ''Caisteal Dhubhairt'' in Scottish Gaelic, is a castle on the Isle of Mull, beside the Sound of Mull off the west coast of Scotland, within the council area of Argyll and Bute. The castle dates back to the 13th century and i ...
*
Irish nobility
Notes and references
*
*
External links
Maclean HistoryClan Maclean WorldwideClan Maclean Atlantic CanadaClan Maclean of Southern CaliforniaClan Maclean Heritage TrustClan Maclean Amateur Radio SocietyClan Maclean Tartans Scottish Register of Tartans
{{DEFAULTSORT:MacLean
Clan MacLean
Clan Maclean (; Scottish Gaelic: ' ) is a Scottish Highlands, Highlands Scottish clan. They are one of the oldest clans in the Scottish Highlands, Highlands and owned large tracts of land in Argyll as well as the Inner Hebrides. Many early Macle ...
Isle of Mull
Gaels
Scottish clans
Highlands and Islands of Scotland
Clans
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship
and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, a clan may claim descent from a founding member or apical ancestor who serves as a symbol of the clan's unity. Many societie ...
Clans
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship
and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, a clan may claim descent from a founding member or apical ancestor who serves as a symbol of the clan's unity. Many societie ...
Clans
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship
and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, a clan may claim descent from a founding member or apical ancestor who serves as a symbol of the clan's unity. Many societie ...
Clans
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship
and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, a clan may claim descent from a founding member or apical ancestor who serves as a symbol of the clan's unity. Many societie ...
Clans and families