Clan Macpherson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Clan Macpherson |
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| Clann Mac a' Phearsain | |||
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| Motto | "Touch not the cat but a glove." — current "Touch not the cat bot a glove." — archaic | ||
| Profile | |||
| Region | Highlands | ||
| District | Badenoch | ||
| Plant badge | White Heather | ||
| Chief | |||
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| James Brodie Macpherson of Cluny, 7th of Blairgowrie | |||
| 28th Hereditary Chief of Clan Macpherson | |||
| Seat | Newton Castle | ||
| Historic seat | Cluny Castle | ||
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Clan Macpherson is a Scottish clan from the Highlands. They are part of a larger group called the Chattan Confederation.
Contents
History
Clan Origins
The name Macpherson comes from the Scottish Gaelic words Mac a' Phearsain. This means 'son of the parson' or 'son of the church official'. Long ago, priests in the Celtic church could marry. The first chief of Clan Macpherson was likely Muireach, also known as Murdo Cattenach. He was a priest in Kingussie, a place in Badenoch.
The Clan Macpherson is part of the Chattan Confederation. The first chief of Clan Chattan was Gille Chattan Mor. One of his sons, who became the first chief of Clan Macpherson, had to move to Lochaber. He might have been a church leader at Ardchattan. His name may have honored Saint Cathan.
The clan motto is "Touch not the cat but a glove." The word 'bot' means 'without'. A 'glove' for a wildcat is its paw pad. If the cat is 'ungloved', its claws are out. The motto warns that you should be careful when the wildcat's claws are showing. It means the clan can be fierce, and others should think twice before bothering them.
Clan Macpherson stories say that in 1309, Robert the Bruce offered the lands of Badenoch to the clan chief. He asked them to defeat his enemies, the Clan Comyn. The Macphersons did as the king wished. The Clan Macpherson is sometimes called the Clan of the Three Brothers. This is because chief Ewan Ban Macpherson had three sons: Kenneth, Iain, and Gillies.
Early Clan Conflicts
In 1370, the Battle of Invernahavon happened. It was between the Chattan Confederation and the Clan Cameron. There was a disagreement between the Macphersons and the Clan Davidson, another clan in the confederation. They argued over who should fight on the right side of the battle line. The Clan Mackintosh chiefs, who also led the Chattan Confederation, chose the Davidsons. Because of this, the Macphersons left the battlefield.
The Clan Cameron took advantage of this and started winning. However, the Macphersons were convinced to return to the fight. In the end, the Camerons were defeated. The rivalry between Clan Cameron and the Chattan Confederation continued for many years. In 1396, the Battle of the North Inch took place. Robert III of Scotland and his whole court watched this battle.
The Black Chanter
According to Clan Macpherson legends, a piper appeared in the sky at the end of the battle. He played some notes, then let his pipes fall. The pipes were made of crystal and broke, but the wooden chanter only cracked. The Clan Chattan piper then grabbed the chanter and kept playing. This special Black Chanter is now kept at the Clan Macpherson Museum in Newtonmore.
16th Century Events
Before the Battle of Glenlivet in 1594, the Earl of Argyll tried to attack Ruthven Castle. The Clan Macpherson, who supported the Earl of Huntly, defended the castle very well. Because of their strong defense, Argyll had to give up his attack.
17th Century and Civil War
In 1618, Andrew Macpherson, the eighth chief, bought a castle-like farm in Strathisla. Andrew's son, Euan Macpherson, supported the king during the Scottish Civil War. He fought for James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose.
The tenth chief was Duncan Macpherson of Cluny. In 1672, he lost his claim to lead the Chattan Confederation. The Privy Council of Scotland decided that a Mackintosh should lead instead. Duncan had no sons, so in 1722, Lachlan Macpherson became the chief.
18th Century Jacobite Uprisings
The Clan Macpherson supported the Jacobite rising of 1715. In 1724, a report by General Wade estimated the clan had about 220 fighting men. Chief Euan Macpherson of Cluny was an important leader in the Jacobite rising of 1745. He fought in the Clifton Moor Skirmish.
About 300 Macphersons took part in the Atholl raids in March 1746. After the Jacobites lost the Battle of Culloden, Cluny managed to avoid being captured for nine years. There was a reward of £1000 for his capture. He escaped to France in 1755.
William Macpherson, who died at the Battle of Falkirk (1746), is an ancestor of the current Chief of Clan Macpherson. His brother saw government soldiers, called "red coats", burn Macpherson of Cluny's house. Duncan Macpherson of Cluny later fought in the British Army during the American Revolutionary War.
Clan Castles
- Cluny Castle, near Newtonmore, was an important stronghold for the clan. The first castle was built in the 1300s. It was destroyed by the Duke of Cumberland after the Jacobite rising of 1745, which the Macphersons supported. The current Cluny Castle is a large house built in the 1800s on the same spot.
- Ballindalloch Castle was built by the Clan Grant. It was owned by the Ballindallochs before the Macphersons took it over. Now it belongs to the Macpherson-Grants.
- Newton Castle, in Blairgowrie, Perthshire, is where the Macpherson chiefs live today.
- Invereshie House, near Kingussie, was held by the Macphersons since the 1300s. William Macpherson of Invereshie captured Blair Castle from the Marquess of Montrose in 1644.
- Pitmain House, also near Kingussie, was held by the Macphersons from the 1300s. The building today is part of the Highland Folk Museum.
See also
- Macpherson, a list of people with this surname
- Scottish clan
Images for kids
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A romantic picture of a clansman by R. R. McIan, from The Clans of the Scottish Highlands, 1845.
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Clan Chief Sir William Macpherson (right), and Cmdr. Xerxes Z. Herrington II wearing different Macpherson tartans.
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