John Garbh Maclean, 1st Laird of Coll facts for kids

John Garbh Maclean was a powerful Scottish leader. He was the first Laird of Coll to rule the island independently. This means he was the main boss of Coll, making his own decisions for his people.

Who Was John Garbh Maclean?

John Garbh Maclean was born into an important family. His father, Lachlan Bronneach Maclean, was a strong leader of the MacLeans. John was Lachlan's second son with his wife Fionnaghal. Even though he wasn't the eldest son, John would become very important.

His Nicknames

As John grew up, people gave him special nicknames. One was Garbh, which means 'rough'. He got this name because he was very tall and incredibly strong. He was also called Teomachd, which means 'cunning' or 'crafty'. This showed that John was not just strong, but also very smart and good at planning.

How John Garbh Gained Land

The MacLeans were connected to the powerful Lord of the Isles. This was a very important title in Scotland back then. John's grandfather was a cousin of Alexander, who was the current Lord of the Isles. The MacLeans were like Alexander's trusted partners.

Getting Land from the Lord of the Isles

John's older brother, Donald MacLean, went to Alexander's castle. Donald asked for some land that Alexander had inherited. After Donald helped Alexander with a problem, Alexander gave him land in Ardgour. King James I later agreed to this gift.

Seeing his brother's success, John Garbh decided to try his luck too! He also asked Alexander for land. Alexander agreed and gave John Garbh control over several important places:

• Coll: This island was worth 20 poundlands.
• Quinish: This area in Mull was worth 18 merklands.
• Loch Eil: This land in Lochaber was worth 20 poundlands.
• Drimnin and Achalennon: These two places in Morvern were worth 6 merklands together.

King James II later confirmed that John Garbh owned these lands. This made John Garbh a very powerful leader in his own right.

Buying More Islands

John Garbh wanted even more land. He claimed to have bought the island of Rùm from Allan MacDonald, the leader of Clan Ranald. This deal also included the nearby islands of Canna and Muck. The payment for these islands was a galley, which was a type of ship.

However, Clan Ranald didn't agree with the sale. So, John Garbh took Allan MacDonald prisoner on Coll. After nine months, Allan was released. It seems he finally agreed to the sale. From then on, records show that Rùm, Canna, and Muck belonged to John Garbh's family.

John Garbh's Family

John Garbh was known as a leader who was respected by his friends and feared by his enemies. He married a woman named Isabella. She was the daughter of the Fraser of Lovat family, who were important leaders. John Garbh's only son, John Abrach MacLean, 2nd Laird of Coll, took over his lands after him.