Sir Fitzroy Maclean
Crimean Veteran and Chief of his Clan
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Sir Fitzroy Donald Maclean, Bt., who died yesterday at Duart Castle, Isle of Mull, at the age of 101, Chief of his Clan and a Crimean veteran, was one of the best known of the "grand old men" of Scotland.
When a boy in his early teens he was taken by his father to see the ruins of Duart Castle, burnt to the ground two centuries before, and then made a vow to restore it to its former glory. The vow was redeemed in 1912, when the yellow banner of the Chief of the Clan once more floated over the castle walls amid the rejoicings of the chieftains and clansmen from all parts of the world.
His lineage goes back to Gillean of the Battle-Axe, founder of the Clan Gillean, whose grandson fought at Bannockburn and was the father of John Dubh, who held Dowart or Duart and other lands in the Isle of Mull. All through Scottish history his forebears were good fighters.He was born on May 1835, the only son of Colonel Sir Charles Fitzroy Maclean, the ninth baronet. After having spent a few weeks as a cornet in the 7th Dragoon Guards he was transferred on October 12, 1852, to the 13th Light Dragoons. In this regiment, which afterwards became the 13th Hussars, he served until September, 1873, being its colonel from February, 1871. Having been promoted lieutenant in October, 1854, and captain in 1856, he served in Bulgaria and in the Crimean War. He was at the Cavalry affair of Buljanak, but missed being in the Charge of the Light Brigade owing to illness. He was, however, present throughout the battle of the Alma and at the siege of Sebastopol, and received the medal and two clasps, and the Turkish war medal. From May, 1858, to September, 1859, he was A.D.C. to Field-Marshal Lord Seaton, and from 1860 to 1861 to General Sir George Brown.He became a major in August, 1861, and in 1865 was selected to report on the french Cavalry manoeuvres. From September, 1866, to July, 1869, he served in Canada, whither the regiment had been sent to cope with the trouble which was apprehended as the result of the Fenian conspiracy. From 1880 to 1899 he commanded the West Kent Queen's Own Yeomanry Cavalry. He succeeded his father as tenth baronet in 1883. He was made a C.B. in 1897 and promoted K.C.B. in 1904.Sir Fitzroy, who was twenty-sixth Chief of the Clan Maclean, entered into possession, in August, 1912, of Duart Castle, in the Isle of Mull, which, after a lapse of 200 years, had again become the family home. Members of the Clan from all parts of the United Kingdom, the Dominions, and America, crossed from Oban to the Isle of Mull on the occasion of their Chief's formal entry to the stronghold of his race. More than 400 clansmen headed by pipers marched from the landing place. Maclean of Ardgour, the senior Chieftain under the Chief, beat upon the door of the castle and in Gaelic summoned the Man of Duart to come and receive the greetings of his clan in the home of his ancestors. The Chief responded by welcoming his guests in Gaelic. Having unfurled the banner of ownership, he read a letter from Mrs. Guthrie, of Duart House, the former proprietor of the castle, intimating that she was changing the name of her estate so that Duart might stand alone as a Maclean possession. The Duke of Argyll, whose ancestors had taken the castle from the Macleans, sent a telegram of congratulation. On the Chief's hundredth birthday, there was another great assembly of the clansfolk. Last year, when he became 101, there was only a family gathering, but the Chief, though confined to his room, continued to take the keenest interest in the Clan. Sir Fitzroy, who was much beloved, was Grand President of the Clan Gillean or Maclean Association, honorary president of the Mull and Iona Association, vice-president and formerly president of the Highland Society of London. He was appointed a deputy lieutenant for Argyllshire in 1932. He married in 1872 Constance Marianne, daughter of Mr. G.H.Ackers, of Moreton Hall, Cheshire. She died in 1920, leaving two sons and one daughter, the wife of Brigadier F.W.Bullock-Marsham. Sir Fitzroy's elder son, Major Hector Fitzroy Maclean, Scots Guards, who married Winifred Joan, daughter of Mr.J.H.Wilding, died in 1932, and he is succeeded by his grandson, Charles Hector Fitzroy, born in 1916.
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