MacQueen of Findhorn facts for kids

MacQueen of Pall a' Chrocain was a famous hunter from the Scottish Highlands. People widely believed he hunted the very last wolf in Scotland in 1743. This exciting event happened in Darnaway Forest, which is in a part of Scotland called Morayshire.

Who Was MacQueen?

MacQueen was a skilled deer stalker, meaning he was excellent at hunting deer. He lived in the 1700s and became a legendary figure in Scottish stories. His most famous deed was linked to the disappearance of wolves from Scotland.

The Last Wolf of Scotland

Wolves used to live all over Scotland, but by the 1700s, they were very rare. The story of MacQueen tells how he helped hunt down what was thought to be the very last one. This particular wolf was a large black wolf.

The Hunt Begins

One day, MacQueen received an urgent message from his chief, the Laird (or lord) of Clan Mackintosh. The chief told him that a black wolf had sadly attacked two children. This happened while the children were walking with their mother from Cawdor across the hills. The chief asked MacQueen to join a special gathering called a "Tainchel." This was a big hunting party where many people would come together to drive animals for a hunt. The meeting point was above a place called Fi-Giuthas.

A Surprising Arrival

The next morning, the Tainchel had already started, and many hunters were waiting. MacQueen was late, and when he finally arrived, the other hunters were annoyed and complained about his delay. MacQueen calmly asked, "Ciod e a' chabhag?" which means "What was the hurry?" Then, to everyone's surprise, he lifted his traditional Scottish plaid. From underneath, he produced the head of the wolf! He tossed it into the middle of the circle, showing everyone that he had already completed the dangerous task.

MacQueen's Reward and Legacy

The chief was very impressed and rewarded MacQueen for his bravery. He gave him a piece of land called Sean-achan. This land was meant to provide food for MacQueen's excellent hunting dogs, his greyhounds, for all time. MacQueen later became the leader, or chief, of his own family group, Clan MacQueen. He lived a long life and passed away in 1797. His story remains a famous part of Scottish folklore.