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Lord Lovat
Coronet of a British Baron.svg
Fraser of lovat arms.svg
Quarterly, 1st & 4th: Azure three fraises Argent; 2nd & 3rd: Argent three antique crowns Gules.
Creation date 1458
Monarch James III
Peerage Peerage of Scotland
First holder Hugh Fraser, 1st Lord Lovat
Present holder Simon Fraser, 16th Lord Lovat
Heir presumptive Hon. Jack Fraser, Master of Lovat
Subsidiary titles Baron Lovat
Seat(s) Beaufort Lodge
Balblair House
Former seat(s) Beaufort Castle
Motto Je suis prest
(I am ready)

Lord Lovat (Scottish Gaelic: Mac Shimidh) is an old and important noble title in Scotland. It was created in 1458 for Hugh Fraser. He was called to the Scottish Parliament as "Lord Fraser of Lovat." Today, the person holding the title is simply known as "Lord Lovat."

This title is also connected to the Clan Fraser of Lovat. The Lord Lovat is the Chief of this famous Highland clan. In 1837, another title, "Baron Lovat," was created for the family in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.

Early Lords of Lovat

The first Lord Lovat, Hugh Fraser, was an important figure. He was one of the people who helped secure the return of James I of Scotland in 1424. He also served as the high sheriff for the area of Inverness in 1431.

The second Lord Lovat, Thomas, held a powerful position. He was the Justiciary of the North during the time of James IV of Scotland. He passed away in 1524.

The title was passed down directly through nine generations. This continued from 1458 until the ninth Lord died in 1696.

Simon "The Fox" Fraser

The tenth Lord Lovat was followed by his son, Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat. He was famously known as Simon "the Fox." In 1697, he married the widow of the ninth Lord against her will. This made her powerful family, the Murrays, very angry.

Simon "the Fox" was charged with crimes and had to flee Scotland. He was found guilty even though he wasn't there. His title was taken away, and he was sentenced to death.

Later, in 1715, Simon supported the government during a rebellion. Because of this, he received a pardon for his past actions. In 1730, he successfully fought in court to get his title of Lord Lovat back.

The 1745 Rebellion

In 1745, Lord Lovat joined another rebellion against the Crown. This was known as the '45 Jacobite rising. After the rebellion failed, he was again sentenced to death.

On April 9, 1747, he was executed at Tower Hill in London. He was about 80 years old at the time. He was the last person to be executed in this way in Britain. His titles were taken away once more.

Restoring the Title

Simon "the Fox"'s eldest son, General Simon Fraser of Lovat, became a general. He received a full pardon but did not get the title back. His younger brother, Archibald Campbell Fraser of Lovat, was also a colonel. He would have inherited the title if it hadn't been taken away.

When Archibald died in 1815, a relative named Thomas Fraser claimed the title. He was a descendant of the fourth Lord Lovat. In 1837, he was given the new title of "Baron Lovat."

In 1854, the old decision to take away the 11th Lord's title was reversed. This meant Thomas Fraser became the twelfth Lord Lovat.

Later Lords Lovat

Thomas Fraser was followed by his son, the thirteenth Lord. He served as the Lord Lieutenant of Inverness, a royal representative.

His eldest son, the fourteenth Lord, was a soldier and politician. He held an important government position from 1926 to 1927.

The fifteenth Lord Lovat was his eldest son. He was a brave soldier who fought with distinction in the Second World War.

As of 2017, the current holder of the titles is the sixteenth Lord Lovat. He inherited the title in 1994. His brother, Hon. Jack Hugh Fraser, is the next in line to the title.

Clan Fraser of Lovat

The title of Lord Lovat has long been connected to the leader of the Clan Fraser of Lovat. The family's old home was Beaufort Castle in northern Scotland.

The way the Clan Fraser of Lovat counts their Lords is a bit different. They don't count the time when the title was taken away (1747–1854). This means they call the current 16th Lord by the number "18th Lord Lovat."

The family's current homes are Beaufort Lodge and Balblair House. These are located near Beauly in Inverness-shire.

Lords Fraser of Lovat (1458) and Barons Lovat of Lovat (1837)

Here is a list of the Lords Lovat:

The heir presumptive (the person next in line to the title) is the current Lord's brother, Hon. Jack Hugh Fraser (born 1984).

Family Connections

Sir Hugh Fraser, a politician from the Conservative Party, was the younger son of the fourteenth Lord.

Another notable family member was Sir Ian Fraser. He was the Chairman of Rolls-Royce Motors. Sir Ian was the son of Hon. Alastair Thomas Joseph Fraser, who was a younger son of the thirteenth Lord.

Arms and Symbols

Images for kids

  • Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat - Project Gutenberg eText transparent

    Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat

  • Jacobite broadside - Engraving of Simon Fraser, Lord Lovat (c. 1667-1747)

    Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat. Engraving from around 1715.

  • Fraser lands 1587

    Fraser lands are shown in blue. Beaufort Castle and Lovat are to the left of the V/Inverness of the Fraser Lands. This map shows the lands as they were around 1587 and 1594.

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