The Chiefs of Clan MacLeod claim descent from Leod , a high-born Norse-Gael who is thought to have lived in the 13th century, but whose ancestors are known from multiple pedigrees at least into the early 12th or late 11th centuries. It is said that the chiefs of the clan have been seated at Dunvegan Castle since the time of Leod, and this on the Isle of Skye where for centuries they were sovereign within their own territories.
21-769: In 1716, Norman MacLeod (today regarded as the 22nd Chief of Clan MacLeod) was created Lord MacLeod in the Jacobite Peerage . In the early 20th century, the immediate senior male-line of the chiefs ended with Dame Flora MacLeod of MacLeod , 28th chief, daughter of Sir Reginald MacLeod of MacLeod , 27th chief. Sir Reginald was the first president of the Clan MacLeod Society, and his daughter also became president. Dame Flora selected one of her grandsons, John Wolrige-Gordon , as her successor. John later changed his surname to MacLeod of MacLeod , and on his grandmother's death in 1976 inherited Dunvegan Castle and
42-603: A debt of £50,000. In consequence of this debt, the ancestral clan lands of Harris and Glenelg were lost. The Ship of the People incident, an attempt to remedy this debt, was also a major reason for his nickname. Another reason for the name is from his part in the Lady Grange affair and the ill treatment to his first wife. In the 20th century, Dame Flora MacLeod of MacLeod , 28th Chief of Clan MacLeod, tried to have his unflattering nickname changed to "The Red Man", because of
63-510: A direct male-line descent from a 17th-century chief, and is the senior agnate of the senior cadet branch . His supporters would contend that, because Guy MacLeod of Talisker is the senior agnate, he is the legitimate, de jure Chief of Clan MacLeod, regardless of any recognition given to the de facto chiefs by the Court of the Lord Lyon or by the modern clan society itself (which is not
84-449: A female line, such as Clan MacLeod, Clan Keith and Clan Mackenzie . Norman MacLeod (The Wicked Man) Norman MacLeod of MacLeod ( Scottish Gaelic : Tormod MacLeòid ) (1705–1772), also known as The Wicked Man (Scottish Gaelic: An Droch Dhuine ), was an 18th-century Scottish politician and the 22nd Chief of Clan MacLeod . Norman was the younger son of Norman MacLeod, the 20th Chief of Clan MacLeod. Norman's brother, John,
105-419: A male, and on the failure of the male line to the daughter of the last surviving son. Norman Magnus died in 1929, and was succeeded by his brother, Sir Reginald MacLeod of MacLeod , 27th chief. On the death of Sir Reginald's younger brother, Canon Roderick MacLeod, in 1934, Sir Reginald's eldest daughter, Flora , became heir to the estate. On the death of Sir Reginald, in 1935, Flora inherited Dunvegan Castle and
126-737: Is known to have been working against the Jacobite cause. Historian James Hunter speculated that his relationship to Lord President Duncan Forbes of Culloden , who cleared him of charges after the Ship of the People incident, played a key role in his decision to support the Hanoverians. He raised several independent companies for the British government in 1745. In December, Norman was ordered to march his troops and engage Lord Lewis Gordon . Norman left Inverness on 10 December, with about 700 men. On
147-665: The American Colonies on the pretense of transporting petty criminals, which was legal and normal for chiefs at the time. The human cargo , which included men, women, and children as young as 5, were loaded onto the William , which then disembarked in Donaghadee in present day Northern Ireland for supplies. While in Ireland, several victims attempted to escape, attracting the attention of local magistrates, who reported
168-623: The Clan MacLeod Societies, descend from Dame Flora MacLeod of MacLeod (d. 1976), but are descended in the direct male-line from Robert Wolrige-Gordon (d. 1939), husband of Dame Flora's daughter, Joan Walter. Talisker is quoted as asking, "How could John have been the chief of the MacLeods when he wasn't even a MacLeod?" Although the Head of Clan MacLeod of Lewis comes through the male line, there are cases in which Clan Headships follow
189-516: The Highlands and devastate the lands of the men who supported the rebellion. Loudon then crossed into the mainland with about 500 of his men but was followed by the Macdonalds and Norman, who together had about 1,200 men between them. Several days later the combined force laid waste to the lands of Grant of Glenmoriston. Norman's men also raided the nearby island of Raasay , in the aftermath of
210-436: The Jacobite failure. The island was the home of the MacLeods of Raasay who had supported the Jacobite cause, and who had been present at Culloden. Norman's men destroyed 32 boats, 300 houses, and killed 1,000 cows, sheep, and horses. Norman was known in his own time by the nickname "The Wicked Man" ( Scottish Gaelic : An Droch Dhuine ). This may be partly because, during his minority, he went through £60,000 and left his estate
231-649: The MacLeod estate. Flora MacLeod of MacLeod was recognised as the clan's chief by the Clan MacLeod Society, which was first formed in the 19th century. She was later granted the arms of MacLeod of MacLeod by the Lord Lyon King of Arms . Dame Flora chose one of her grandsons as her successor, John Wolridge-Gordon , younger son of Capt. Robert Wolrige-Gordon and Joan Walter (daughter of Dame Flora). On being chosen heir, John changed his surname to MacLeod of MacLeod , and on his grandmother's death in 1976, inherited
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#1732791163553252-501: The MacLeod estate. He was recognised by MacLeod clan societies as the 29th chief of the clan, and granted the chiefly arms by the Lord Lyon King of Arms . His second son, Hugh Magnus MacLeod of MacLeod , is currently recognised by the Associated Clan MacLeod Societies as the clan's 30th chief. In recent years, an Australian MacLeod has claimed to be the rightful chief because he is acknowledged as having
273-522: The case to the British government. Norman and Sir Alexander successfully denied their complicity in the incident, and were not prosecuted by government authorities, who instead implicated several conspirators personally involved in transporting the victims. Norman, and his clan, supported the Government during the 1745 Jacobite Rising . Norman had initially pledged his support for the cause, but as soon as Charles Edward Stuart reached Scotland, he
294-414: The castle and estate. John MacLeod of MacLeod was also recognised as the clan's chief by the society, and was later granted his grandmother's arms by the Lord Lyon. On his death in 2007, John was succeeded by his second son, Hugh Magnus MacLeod of MacLeod , who was recognised as the clan's 30th chief by the Associated Clan MacLeod Societies, and granted his father's arms by the Lord Lyon. In 2007, following
315-479: The colour of the tartan he wears in the portrait painted by Allan Ramsay ( pictured ). Norman's first marriage was to Janet, daughter of Sir Donald Macdonald of Sleat, 4th Baronet, in December 1724. Norman had his wife live with her mother-in-law and several sisters-in-law at Castle Leod . By 1733, the couple were separated, and remained apart from one another for seven years. In 1740, Duncan Forbes of Culloden
336-399: The death of John MacLeod of MacLeod, Guy MacLeod of Talisker , from Australia, claimed to be the rightful chief of Clan MacLeod. Talisker traces his descent, in the direct male-line, from the 17th-century chief Sir Rory Mor MacLeod ; a descent acknowledged by leading clan genealogists. Talisker has stated that he is "keen that the bloodline shouldn't be lost". The present chiefs, recognised by
357-555: The night of 23 December, he was defeated by a superior force commanded by Gordon at the Battle of Inverurie . About 70 of Norman's men were killed, wounded, or captured. Norman, and his clan, did not take part in the Battle of Culloden . Instead they and the Macdonalds of Sleat remained on Skye . On 22 April, following the battle, William , Duke of Cumberland ordered John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun , to march all his men into
378-440: The same entity as the ancient Clan MacLeod ). Guy MacLeod of Talisker has stated that he has no interest in the estates, only wanting acknowledgement of his right to the title. See agnatic seniority . Norman MacLeod of MacLeod , 25th chief, died in 1895, leaving three sons. Norman Magnus MacLeod of MacLeod succeeded his father, becoming the 26th chief. The entail of the estate stipulated that Dunvegan Castle would only pass to
399-646: Was able to negotiate a reconciliation between the pair, and she then lived with Norman until her death in 1743. According to tradition, Norman brought about Janet's death by locking her in the dungeon of Dunvegan Castle and leaving her to starve there. Through this marriage, the couple had one son and two daughters: John MacLeod of MacLeod Younger, Emilia, and Anne. Five years after Janet's death, Norman married Anne, daughter of William Martin of Inchfure. Anne died in 1802. The couple had three daughters: Elizabeth, Anne, and Mary. Norman also had two illegitimate sons, Alexander and Norman. Norman died on 21 July 1772 and
420-502: Was an absentee chief as he seldom lived at his ancestors' traditional seat of Dunvegan Castle . Norman MacLeod was a leading figure in a 1739 scandal centred around the so-called ' Ship of the People ' ( Scottish Gaelic : Soitheach nan Daoine ), when he and Sir Alexander MacDonald of Sleat kidnapped approximately 100 of their tenants on the Isle of Skye and on the Isle of Harris , and planned to sell them into indentured servitude in
441-519: Was briefly the 21st Chief of Clan MacLeod as an infant after their father died in 1706. By 1707, John had also died, and Norman was left with the chiefdom at the age of 1. Norman was the Member of Parliament for Inverness-shire between 1741 and 1754. He matriculated arms , and supporters , at Lyon Office , on 12 January 1753. He supported the Government cause in the Jacobite Rising, and
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