Donald Cameron, 22nd Lochiel facts for kids
Donald Cameron of Lochiel (born October 22, 1769 – died September 14, 1832) was an important leader, known as the 22nd Lochiel, of Clan Cameron. He was a Scottish clan chief, a role that meant he was the head of his family and community.
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Life of Donald Cameron
Donald Cameron was born in Gibraltar. He was the oldest son of Charles Cameron of Lochiel and Martha Marshall. His family had a long history in Scotland.
Family History and Challenges
Donald's grandfather, known as The Gentle Lochiel, was the 19th chief of the clan. After a big battle called the Battle of Culloden, his grandfather had to leave Scotland. The government also took away his family's lands.
Later, Donald's father, Charles Cameron, was allowed to come back to Scotland. He even helped gather men from the Lochiel clan to serve the government during the American War of Independence.
Taking Care of the Clan Lands
In 1784, a special law was passed that allowed the Lochiel family to get their lands back. However, Donald faced money problems. He made some deals about the clan's land to try and raise money.
In 1790, he visited the Lochaber area for the first time. Soon after, he told his guardians about the land deals. They were not happy. A court decided that the deals were not valid. It was also decided that Donald could not manage the family lands himself. So, a group of people called a trust took over managing the estate.
In 1801, this trust started asking people to leave their homes on the Cameron land. This was the start of what became known as the Cameron Clearances. Donald continued these evictions in 1819 when he got control of the estate again.
Later Years and Family
In 1795, Donald married Anne Abercromby. She was the daughter of Sir Ralph Abercromby. Donald and Anne had a son named Donald Cameron, 23rd Lochiel, who would become the next chief.
However, his wife wasn't happy living in Lochaber and later moved away from him. Donald himself also left Scotland soon after. He spent the rest of his life in France, living in Toulouse. He lived apart from his family and passed away there in 1832. He was 63 years old.
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