Alasdair Alpin MacGregor (March 20, 1899 – April 15, 1970) was a Scottish writer,

animal welfare Animal welfare is the quality of life and overall well-being of animals. Formal standards of animal welfare vary between contexts, but are debated mostly by animal welfare groups, legislators, and academics. Animal welfare science uses measures ...

campaigner and photographer, known for a large number of travel books. He wrote also on

Scottish folklore Scottish folklore (Scottish Gaelic: ''Beul-aithris na h-Alba'') encompasses the folklore of the Scottish people from their earliest records until today. Folkloristics, Folklorists, both academic and amateur, have published a variety of works focu ...

, and was a published

poet A poet is a person who studies and creates poetry. Poets may describe themselves as such or be described as such by others. A poet may simply be the creator (thought, thinker, songwriter, writer, or author) who creates (composes) poems (oral t ...

Biography

MacGregor was born at Applecross,

Ross and Cromarty Ross and Cromarty (), is an area in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. In modern usage, it is a registration county and a Lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area. Between 1889 and 1975 it was a Shires of Scotland, county. Historical ...

, on 20 March 1899, the son of Colonel John MacGregor M.D. of the Indian Medical Service. He was educated at Tain Academy in Inverness, George Watson's College and

Edinburgh University The University of Edinburgh (, ; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded by the town council under the authority of a royal charter from King James VI in 1582 and offi ...

. He took an arts degree at Edinburgh University.Kidd, Dorothy I. (1997). ''To See Oursels: Rural Scotland in Old Photographs''. Edinburgh: National Museums of Scotland. p. 11. During

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

he served with the 15th Scottish Division in the trenches in France. He was a writer for the magazine ''Country Life'' and was a correspondent for ''

The Times ''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...

'' for the evacuation of St Kilda in 1930. He spent much of his life as a freelance photographer and writer of Scotland. His books were mainly about

Hebrides The Hebrides ( ; , ; ) are the largest archipelago in the United Kingdom, off the west coast of the Scotland, Scottish mainland. The islands fall into two main groups, based on their proximity to the mainland: the Inner Hebrides, Inner and Ou ...

and

Western Isles The Outer Hebrides ( ) or Western Isles ( , or ), sometimes known as the Long Isle or Long Island (), is an island chain off the west coast of mainland Scotland. It is the longest archipelago in the British Isles. The islands form part ...

. His romanticising style incurred the displeasure of Compton Mackenzie, who caricatured him in some of his novels. Judging by the title of the 1931 book ''A Last Voyage to St. Kilda. Being the Observations and Adventures of an Egotistic Private Secretary who was alleged to have been 'warned off' That Island by Admiralty Officials when attempting to emulate Robinson Crusoe at the Time of Its Evacuation'' there might have been something to caricature. In partial explanation, St Kilda was evacuated in 1930; at the time he was Private Secretary to the

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is a ministerial office in the Government of the United Kingdom. Excluding the prime minister, the chancellor is the highest ranking minister in the Cabinet Office, immediately after the prime minister ...

. The same book was the subject of a legal case when MacGregor brought an injunction to prevent the distribution of '' The Edge of the World'', a film by

Michael Powell Michael Latham Powell (30 September 1905 – 19 February 1990) was an English filmmaker, celebrated for his partnership with Emeric Pressburger. Through their production company Powell and Pressburger, The Archers, they together wrote, produced ...

that he claimed was based on it. MacGregor lost the case. He lived in London for most of his adult life in Swan Court and Upper Cheyne Row, Chelsea. Along with T. Ratcliffe Barnett, an Edinburgh minister and author, MacGregor reflects a transitional period during the first half of the 20th century when the north of Scotland was still rural and mostly unaffected by modern society. In the years before his death in 1970, he visited the United States often and was a mentor to a young

Marion Barry Marion Shepilov Barry (born Marion Barry Jr.; March 6, 1936 – November 23, 2014) was an American politician who served as mayor of the District of Columbia from 1979 to 1991 and 1995 to 1999. A Democratic Party (United States), Democrat, Barr ...

, who later became mayor of

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

His book about his childhood, ''The Goat Wife'', tells the evocative story of his hard working and resourceful Aunt Dorothy, who left a comfortable existence 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 ...

's Ann Street - reputed to be the most haunted street in Edinburgh - to begin life as a solo crofter in the Easter Ross village of Ardgay (then known locally as "High Wind"). Spanning the period before the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

until the end of the Second, it captures the last remnants of the simplicity, privations and charm of Scottish rural community life. The "Victor" in the book is the poet Frederick Victor Branford. MacGregor was described as a "vegetarian, teetotaller, and uncompromising and active anti-vivisectionist".

''The Western Isles''

MacGregor caused controversy with his book ''The Western Isles'' (1949) which accused modern islanders of being drunkards, greedy, lazy and immoral. In November, 1949 complaints were sent to the publisher requesting for the book to be withdrawn. James S. Grant editor of the '' Stornoway Gazette'' denounced the statements in the book as "vile and false". MacGregor had claimed that his book was based on facts and dared anyone to question them. In response, Grant challenged MacGregor to produce evidence in support of his statements. Grant commented that "this is a matter which affects the good name of the whole Highlands". In 1949, The Lewis Association published a booklet titled ''The Western Isles: A Critical Analysis of the Book of that Name by Alasdair Alpin MacGregor'' to counter the attack on the people of the Hebrides.

Animal welfare

MacGregor was a campaigner against

cruelty to animals Cruelty to animals, also called animal abuse, animal neglect or animal cruelty, is the infliction of suffering or Injury, harm by humans upon animals, either by omission (neglect) or by commission. More narrowly, it can be the causing of harm ...

, including

vivisection Vivisection () is surgery conducted for experimental purposes on a living organism, typically animals with a central nervous system, to view living internal structure. The word is, more broadly, used as a pejorative catch-all term for Animal test ...

and hunting for sport. In 1929, MacGregor returned his graduation diplomas to Edinburgh University and requested for his name to be erased from the alumni register in protest of the University's vivisection activities. In 1930, MacGregor challenged

Edward Albert Sharpey-Schafer Sir Edward Albert Sharpey-Schafer (2 June 1850 – 29 March 1935) was a British physiologist. He is regarded as a founder of endocrinology: in 1894 he discovered and demonstrated the existence of adrenaline together with George Oliver, and he a ...

to a public debate on the ethics of vivisection. MacGregor was president of the League for the Prohibition of Cruel Sports. He resigned in 1934. He was a

vegetarian Vegetarianism is the practice of abstaining from the Eating, consumption of meat (red meat, poultry, seafood, insects as food, insects, and the flesh of any other animal). It may also include abstaining from eating all by-products of animal slau ...

who argued that animal-lovers should not eat meat. MacGregor attended meetings of the National Equine Defence League.

Dispute with the RSPCA

MacGregor criticized the RSPCA for its non-opposition to blood sports such as fox-hunting. The RSPCA had refused to oppose hunting out of risk of losing its wealthiest supporters. Macgregor alleged that the governing body of the RSPCA had introduced a secret expulsion from their society where "undesirable" members could be expelled. He was involved in a feud with Robert Gower and in July 1931 they were both involved in an incident at the annual meeting of the RSPCA. Karmer, Molly Baer. (2022). ''Pressure From Within: Internecine Conflict in the English Animal Protection Movement, 1950-1975''. In Bruce L. Kinzer, Molly Baer Kramer, Richard Trainor. ''Reform and Its Complexities in Modern Britain: Essays Inspired by Sir Brian Harrison''. Oxford University Press. pp. 179-202. MacGregor filed a charge of assault against Gower. MacGregor alleged that Gower the chairman of the meeting ordered six uniformed attendants under his control to remove him from the hall with far more force than was necessary and that he was assaulted in the process whilst Gower made no attempt to stop it. According to MacGregor the attendants attacked him from behind, held him by the throat and hurled him out of the hall. The magistrate dismissed the summons brought by MacGregor against Gower. It was agreed that a considerable amount of force had been used to eject MacGegor from the hall but there was no suggestion that Sir Robert had assaulted MacGregor personally.

Death

MacGregor died on April 15, 1970 in London. Following his wishes, his photographic collection and published works were donated to the National Museums by his widow in 1970. His personal papers are stored by the

National Library of Scotland The National Library of Scotland (NLS; ; ) is one of Scotland's National Collections. It is one of the largest libraries in the United Kingdom. As well as a public programme of exhibitions, events, workshops, and tours, the National Library of ...

Publications

* ''Behold the Hebrides!'' (First published 1925, Revised Edition 1948) * ''Over the Sea to Skye: Or, Ramblings in an Elfin Isle'' (1926) * ''Wild Drumalban or the Road to Meggernie and Glencoe'' (1927) * ''Summer Days Among The Western Isles'' (1929) * ''A Last Voyage To St. Kilda'' (1931) * ''Searching the Hebrides With a Camera'' (1933) * ''The Haunted Isles: Or, Life in the Hebrides'' (1933) * ''The Peat-Fire Flame: Folk-tales and Traditions of the Highlands and Islands'' (1937) * ''The Goat Wife: Portrait of a Village'' (1939) * ''Vanished Waters: Portrait of a Highland Childhood'' (1946) * ''The Western Isles'' (1949) * ''Skye and the Outer Hebrides'' (1953) * ''Auld Reekie: Portrait of a Lowland Boyhood'' (1943) * ''The Ghost Book: Strange Hauntings in Britain'' (1955) * ''The Turbulent Years: A Portrait of Youth in Auld Reekie'' (1945) * ''Journeyman Taylor: The Education of a Scientist'' (1958, rewrite of the Thomas Griffith Taylor autobiography) * ''Phantom Footsteps: A Second Ghost Book'' (1959) * ''Percyval Tudor-Hart: Portrait of an Artist'' (1961) * ''The Golden Lamp: Portrait of a Landlady'' (1964) * ''Land of the Mountain and the Flood'' (1965) * ''The Enchanted Isles'' (1967) * ''The Farthest Hebrides'' (1969)Marshall-Cornwell, James. (1970). ''The Farthest Hebrides''. ''

The Geographical Journal ''The Geographical Journal'' is a quarterly peer-reviewed academic journal of the Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers). It publishes papers covering research on all aspects of geography. It also publishes shorter ...

'' 136: 111. * ''Islands by the Score'' (1971)