John Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Cromartie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Earl of Cromartie
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Cromartie Coat of Arms
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Ruaridh Blunt Grant Blunt-Mackenzie
June 12, 1948 |
| Spouses |
Helen Murray
(m. 1973; div. 1983)Janet Claire Harley
(after 1985) |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent | Roderick Grant Francis Mackenzie, 4th Earl of Cromartie |
| Residence | Castle Leod |
| Known for | Chief of Clan Mackenzie |
John Ruaridh Grant Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Cromartie was born on June 12, 1948. He is a Scottish engineer and holds a special noble title called a peerage. He is also the current leader, or chief, of Clan Mackenzie.
Early Life and Education
John Ruaridh Grant Mackenzie is the only son of Roderick Mackenzie, 4th Earl of Cromartie. His mother was Olga Mendoza. He has two older half-sisters from his father's first marriage.
His grandmother, Lady Sibell Lilian Mackenzie, held the title of Countess of Cromartie in her own right.
He went to school at Rannoch School in Perthshire, Scotland. Later, he studied at Strathclyde University in Glasgow.
Career and Clan Leadership
Lord Cromartie is a registered explosives engineer. This means he is an expert in using explosives safely for things like construction or mining.
He became the Chief of Clan Mackenzie in 1980. This is a very important role, as he leads a historic Scottish clan. On December 13, 1989, he also inherited several noble titles. These include the 5th Earl of Cromartie. The family's main home is Castle Leod, located in Strathpeffer, Ross-shire.
Hobbies and Interests
For much of his life, Lord Cromartie has been an active mountaineer. He has climbed many mountains and was the first to reach the top of several challenging routes. He is a member of the Scottish Mountaineering Club. In 2013, he was chosen to be the President of this club.
He also wrote a climbing guide book called Selected Climbs in Skye, which was published in 1982. He has helped the Scottish Mountaineering Trust, a charity that supports health and outdoor activities in the Scottish mountains. He also played a key role in an agreement about public access to the Letterewe estate in the 1990s. This happened before the general Land Reform Act in Scotland.
Lord Cromartie enjoys collecting agates. These are beautiful, colorful stones. Some of the agates from his collection have been shown at the National Museum of Scotland.
Family Life
Lord Cromartie married Helen Murray in 1973. They later divorced in 1983. They had one son, Kenneth Mackenzie, who sadly passed away as a baby in 1980.
In 1985, he married Janet Clare Harley. They have two sons:
- Colin Ruaridh Mackenzie, who holds the title of Viscount Tarbat, born in 1987.
- Hon. Alasdair Kenelm Stuart Mackenzie, born in 1989.
