Murlagan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Murlagan |
|
|---|---|
 Murlagan
|
|
| OS grid reference | NN012922 |
| Council area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Spean Bridge |
| Postcode district | PH34 4 |
| Police | Northern |
| Fire | Highlands and Islands |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
Murlagan is a tiny village, also called Murlaggan or Mhurlagain. It sits on the north side of Loch Arkaig in the Scottish Highlands. This area is part of the Highland region of Scotland. Murlagan is also known as a special place for the Clan MacMillan family.
History of Murlagan
The leader of the MacMillan family in Murlagan was once a tacksman. A tacksman was like a manager who rented land from a clan chief. The MacMillan tacksman rented land from the Cameron of Lochiel clan chief.
One story says that Alexander, a MacMillan from Murlagan, helped hide treasure. This happened during the 1745 rebellion. He and a doctor named Archibald Cameron hid gold for Bonny Prince Charlie. They hid it near a stream called Callich burn. They even hid it for a short time in a burial ground.
For many years, MacMillan families served the Camerons of Lochiel. They farmed land near Loch Arkaig, close to Fort William. This area is below a mountain also called Murlagan.
In 1745, a major event happened in Scottish history. It was a rebellion led by Bonny Prince Charlie. He wanted to take the British throne from the House of Hanover. John, a MacMillan leader from Murlagan, did not support Prince Charlie. However, his two sons joined the rebellion. They fought under the Cameron of Locheil clan. One son died at the Battle of Culloden. The other son helped Prince Charlie escape.
The very last fight of the 1745 rebellion happened near Murlagan. People believed that French gold, meant to fund the rebellion, was buried there. After this, the Prince went into hiding. He then secretly traveled to the Isle of Skye before going into exile in France.
MacMillan Families Move to Canada
Many MacMillan families and their relatives left Loch Arkaig in 1802. They moved to Canada to start new lives. Their descendants returned to Murlagan in 2002. They built a special stone monument, called a cairn, during an event known as "The Great Return".
One of the MacMillan leaders, Archibald MacMillan of Murlagan, moved to Canada. He went with Allan MacMillan of Glenpean and about 200 other clan members. Archibald settled in Montreal and worked in business. He asked the Governor General for land for himself and his group. He received large areas of land. These lands were in places like Suffolk, Templeton, and Grenville, along the Ottawa River.
The MacMillan Leaders Today
The last leader of the MacMillans of Murlagan was William George MacMillan. He lived in Edinburgh, UK. The Lord Lyon King of Arms officially recognized him as the head of the MacMillans of Murlagan. The Lord Lyon King of Arms is a Scottish official who deals with coats of arms and clan leaders.
William George MacMillan passed away in February 2010. He had three daughters: Gillian, Ulyssa, and Harriet. The title of Clan Chieftain, which is the leader of the clan, has now been passed to his youngest daughter, Harriet.
