Clan Macgregor

SCOTTISH CLANS - MACGREGOR


MOTTO MY RACE IS ROYAL	CLAN TARTAN MACGREGOR TARTAN

The Macgregors were known to be a powerful clan, holding lands in Perthshire and Argyllshire, namely Glenstrae, Glenlochy, Glenlyon and Glengyle. However the Campbell Clan managed to gain a legal right to these lands in the time of David II, and while the MacGregors fought to retain possession, they were eventually dispossesed and became landless and lawless. Acts of oppression continued to be forced upon the clan by the Campbells. From the beginning of the 16th century, the clan was systematically hounded which led them to commit even graver acts of violence.

In 1603 there was a victory of Clan Gregor over Clan Colquhoun which was considered by a Royal Commission to be an act of rebellion. The Clan Macgregor was consequently outlawed and surviving clan members were forced to change their names, by an Act of Privy Council. The Clan Chief, Alexander, MacGregor of Glenstrae, of the time was executed. This has made the accurate tracing and indication of sects of the clan impossible. Names adopted by the clan thereafter included Campbell, Graham, Stewart and Drummond. They continued to be united as a clan and even increased their numbers in spite of the oppression under which they laboured. Their fortunes varied over the next century with some of the enactments against them being annulled only to be reinstated later. In 1784 they were finally, by an Act of Parliament, allowed to resume the use of their clan name and all rights of citizenship restored.

The most famous of the clan was Rob Roy Macgregor (who took the name Campbell under the enactment which forced him to relinquish his clan name) living from 1671 to some time after 1738. Despite his unlawful activities he died peacefully in his bed. According to Sir Walter Scott he is supposed to have expressed some contrition for the way he lived his life. However his wife is said to have remonsrated with him to put these scruples aside and die like a man. His grave is situated in the local church of Balquhidder Farm, near Stirling.