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A TIME LINE OF MACGREGOR HISTORY |
| AD882-893 | Reign of Pict King Grig ('Grioghair' in Gaelic) ('Gregor' in English) from whom the clan takes its name, described by Scottish historians as a Pict usurper. A son of Dungall of Fortrenn. |
AD 966 |
Finghin, a descendent of Grig, Abbot of Glen Dochart, (titular Abbot of Iona) went on a pilgrimage to Rome, where he obtained an audience with Pope John XIII, who granted him permission to marry. |
AD 1000 |
MacGregors flourish in Glen Dochart. |
AD 1100 |
Gregor first used as surname. (Before this it had been Alpin, although generally, surnames did not come into use in Scotland until after 1200). |
Pre-1200 |
Clan seat was located in Glen Orchy, district of Lorne (Argyll) |
1200's |
Kilchurn castle, Clan stronghold, established on island in Loch Awe |
1296 |
Iain (John) MacGregor of Glen Orchy captured by King Edward I of England at the Battle of Dunbar. Under duress, John agreed to serve Edward in France, driving a wedge between Robert Bruce and the MacGregors of Glen-Orchy. |
1300's |
Malcolm of the castles built eight MacGregor castles in Perthshire, including Stonmelchan. |
| Late 1300's | Emergence of Clan Campbell as a powerful feudal society. |
1390 |
Campbell of Glenorchy compels the MacGregors to sell the lands of Auchinrevach giving the Campbells their first foothold in Breadalbane. |
| Early 1400's | MacGregors established homes in Glen Strae and Glen Lyon. |
| 1429 | A Deed of Resignation dated February 7th, 1429, transferred 'Gleane Mackerne' (Glen Mackurn) to Iain Colquhoun of Luss. |
| 1440 |
Clan Gregor lost most of their Argylshire lands, including Kilchurn Castle, on the accessible east side of Loch Awe to Colin Campbell. |
| 1440 |
The Stewarts massacred the MacIvers and MacLivers (Clan Gregor septs) in GlenLyon. |
| 1488 |
James III passed an act 'for staunching of
thiftreif and other enormities throw all the realme' designed against the
MacGregors with Duncan Campbell of Glenorchy given power to enforce it. |
| C.A. 1500 |
MacGregors move to Glen Gyle. (Rob Roy's paternal grand father was an
original settler.) |
| 1502 | Sir Duncan Campbell of Glenorchy procured a charter of the lands of Glenlyon. |
|
Early 1500's |
A Compilation of Chronicles of Fortingall, by Sir James MacGregor, Vicar of Fortingall and Dean of Linsmore. The Chronicles details obituaries and other historic events and was continued by Jame's successor. The Book of the Dean contains the earliest collection of highland poetry, including some Ossianic works and writings which pay tribute to deceased MacGregors. |
|
1519 |
When a young MacGregor boy ravished a Campbell heiress, Campbells in Argyll seized the opportunity and forced him to marry her, setting up a puppet line of MacGregor Chiefs at GlenOrchy to rival the true Glenstrae line. These "puppets" quickly became unmanageable and turned against the Campbells. |
1552 |
Campbells attempt to annihilate the true Glenstrae line of MacGregor chiefs. They succeed in murdering the legitimate chief and his three sons, but the grandson escaped. |
| 1560 |
An act of the Scottish Parliament made it illegal for Scots to be Roman Catholics. MacGregors were Catholics. (Mary Stuart refused to sign it.) |
1563 |
Mary, Queen of Scots, through two acts of the Privy council, gave supreme authority to Sir John Campbell of Glenorchy to pursue the MacGregors with fire and sword. |
| 1566 |
An act of the Privy Council gave the Protestant nobles and chiefs (including Campbells) the right to exterminate the MacGregors. |
| Late 1500's | Extreme persecution of Clan Gregor continued. |
| 1604 |
Grand Chief Alasdair MacGregor of Glenstrae was executed by Campbell treachery. (The Campbells finally succeeded in annihilating the Glenstrae line of Chiefs when they murdered the grandson who escaped in 1552.) |
| 1604 |
After 200 years of outlawry and the Battle of Glen Fruin (where an outnumbered force of MacGregors annihilated a government-sponsored raiding party of Colquhouns, Buchanans, Grahams, and Dunbar townspeople), James VI decreed that the name MacGregor was illegal. This was called " proscription " and would be enforced for the next 170 years. |
| 1610, 1613, 1617 |
Additional acts of proscription were enacted making it illegal for more than four MacGregors to meet in one place, or to possess weapons. Families were divided and children sent to other clans or Ireland. Many Clan leaders were executed. Women who associated with MacGregors were tarred and feathered. MacGregor scalps were proclaimed legal tender. |
| Early 1600's |
The Clan was nearly destroyed. Many MacGregors disappeared into remote mountain areas where they remained concealed for the next twenty years, becoming known as The Children of the Mist. |
1620 |
Sgiath MacGregor (hiding place in Finglas gorge used after our outlawry) is named after Calum MacGregor, Rob Roy's grandfather. |
|
1624 |
The Earl of Moray asked Clan Gregor for help. Malcom Og sped north with 300 Gregarach and expelled Clan Chattan from his estates. Two centuries of persecution had made Clan Gregor the toughest and most skilled guerrilla force ever to operate in Scotland. |
1624 |
Malcom Og MacGregor, Chief of the Dubh Ciar branch of Clan MacGregor at Glengyle, shot the last of the Campbell-trained bloodhounds known as "conn dubh" (black dogs) that were used to track the MacGregors. (That place is still known as "the hill of the wild dog") |
1633 |
Charles I issued the Proscriptive Act I to quell Highland uprisings, which only served to encourage such activities. |
| 1645 | During the Civil War of 1638-1651, Clan Gregor played such a conspicuous part in the defeat of the Covenanters that they were promised full restitution of their lands. This promise was put into writing in June of 1645. |
1650 |
In the unsuccessful rising of Glencairn, the forces of Charles II gathered at "MacGregor Hall" on the Isle of Loch Rannoch. |
| 1653
|
Oliver Cromwell "Lord Protector of England and Scotland", relaxed the proscription Acts against the Clan Gregor due to his passion for fairness and a hatred of fanaticism. |
|
1654 |
Charles II confirmed the relaxation of the proscription in gratitude for clan MacGregor's support in his struggle to regain the throne. Although promised complete restoration of clan status, lands were never returned due to the Campbells' political influence. |
| 1658 | The Privy Council authorized the MacGregors of Glengyle to protect the cattle of the Lennox, appointing their chieftains to command a "Watch" with power of fire and Sword. |
| 1661
|
When the Great Civil War broke out, Clan Gregor forgave the Stuarts and joined the Royalist cause to fight in a war which became, in Scotland, a conflict between the Hoses of Argyle and Graham. |
| 1671-1734 | Lifetime of Rob Roy, known for his colourful style and his quarrel with the earl of Montrose and his staunch defence of the independence of the clan. |
|
1689 |
Lieutenant-Colonel Donald MacGregor led a hundred GlenGyle MacGregors to follow "Bonnie Dundee" in the Highland uprising and fought fiercely in the Battle of Killiecrankie, where Campbell forces were entirely routed and annihilated. |
| 1693 | After over thirty years of full use of the name, William of Orange decreed a severe proscription of the MacGregors, at the instigation of the Earl of Stair, a Campbell, whom William appointed to be his Governor in Scotland. |
| 1695 | Lt-Colonel Donald MacGregor, father of Rob Roy, died in Edinburgh's Tolbooth prison after a lengthy imprisonment and torture. |
| 1714 | The 'Balhaldie' line of Roro, claimed chieftainship of the Clan Gregor, but were frustrated by internal clan bickering. |
|
1725 |
In the end of 1725 and beginning of 1726, the MacGregors, and the Grants,
in
their joint faith in their common ancestry, held numerous meetings of both Clans at
Blair Atholl, during fourteen successive days, for the purpose of forming a
joint Clan to relieve the persecution of the MacGregors. At this meeting it was unanimously resolved that application should be made for restoring the name of MacGregor and if that failed, the MacGregors agreed that either MacAlpin or Grant should be the common name, but insisted at all events that John MacGregor should be Chief of the united Clan; while it was insisted by Grant that as he had now greater influence at Court, it was more proper to choose him Chief, but the senior Clan would not hearken to these terms; and such a proposal being made, together with the Laird of Grant's having only attended by proxies, displeased the MacGregors and prevented a general agreement, tho' some gentlemen of both Clans at that time assumed the ancient name of MacAlpin. |
| 1740 | Alexander MacGregor (alias Drummond of Balhaldie) was created a Knight and Baronet by the absentee James VIII (the old pretender). His successors held the estate for several generations. |
| 1745 | Sir John Murray, claimed that his grandfather, Robert Murray of Glencairnock, raised a MacGregor regiment of 300 to fight for Bonnie Prince Charlie in the '45. There is no independent record of this event, and no corroborating evidence whatsoever. |
| 1745 | James Mohr MacGregor, son of Rob Roy, a major, was Prince Charle's adjutant, and led the army through the remote highlands to Edinburgh before the Battle of Culloden. |
| 1745 | The branch of Ciar Mohr MacGregors under William MacGregor of Balhaldie, and a separate corps formed under James Mohr MacGregor of Glengyle united to fight as a clan unit under the titular Duke of Perth. |
|
1745 |
At the battle of Prestonpans, these men composed the centre. Armed only with scythes, they cut off the legs of the horses and severed the bodies of their riders in twain.. Captain James Mohr MacGregor received five wounds, but recovered from them and rejoined the prince's army with six companies of MacGregors |
| 1745 | The MacGregor regiments fought as a clan unit for the Stuart Prince in a rear-guard action in Sutherland, confronting the MacKays, the MacKenzies, and other threatening anti-Jacobite forces. |
| 1746 | Clan system abolished after the defeat of Bonnie Charlie at Culloden. |
|
1774 |
An act of Parliament under George III restored the legality of the MacGregor name, after a suit by Gregor MacGregor of Inverrarderan. (Part of this agreement was for a regiment of MacGregors to go to North America to fight American rebels, but later, Gregor feigned old age to escape this clause) |
| 1775 | MacGregor of Lanrick, (alias John Murray) was recognized by the Lord Lyon as chief of Clan Gregor. |
| 1782 | An act permitting the wearing of the tartan and accessories was enabled. |
| 1784 | The oppressive acts against the MacGregors were rescinded by the British parliament, and they were allowed to resume their old name and were restored to all the rights and privileges of British citizens. |
| 1799 | In gratitude for the restoration of the name, Clan Alpine Fencibles (composed solely by MacGregors) was formed as a regiment in the British army and served in Ireland. |
| 1818
1822 |
"Rob Roy" was published by Sir Walter Scott, publicizing
his life and times.
At the instigation of Sir Walter Scott, King George IV visited Scotland. Scott arranged for the King's guard of honour to be Clan Gregor for his entire stay. Clan Gregor Society established. |
| 1898 | First 'History of the Clan Gregor' is written by Miss Amelia Georgina Murray MacGregor. |
| 1977 | 'Clan Gregor'
researched and written by Forbes MacGregor, published by The Clan Gregor Society.
(Printed by David Macdonald Ltd, 29 Albany Street, Edinburgh | >
| 1982 | The most authentic reflection of Robert MacGregor was published by W. H. Murray, namely 'Rob Roy MacGregor, His Life and Times'. |