The chiefs of the Scottish highland

Clan Munro Clan Munro (; gd, Clann an Rothaich ) is a Highland Scottish clan. Historically the clan was based in Easter Ross in the Scottish Highlands. Traditional origins of the clan give its founder as Donald Munro who came from the north of Ireland and ...

, the Munros of Foulis, are according to tradition, descended from a

Donald Munro of Foulis Donald Munro (died 1039) is the first traditional chief of the Clan Munro. There is no existing contemporary evidence for Donald's existence however he is documented in several later family manuscripts such as the Coul MS and Munro Tree 1734. Ac ...

who died in 1039. However their descent can only be proved by contemporary evidence back to a Robert de Munro who died in 1369.Munro. R. W. (1978). ''The Munro Tree 1734''. Edinburgh. . According to 19th-century historian Alexander Mackenzie, the chiefs of the Clan Munro are from as early as the 12th century designated Barons of Foulis."The History of the Munros of Fowlis". Alexander Mackenzie. 1898. However although the family line can be proved back to Robert de Munro (d.1369) by contemporary evidence, it cannot be proved that they were all actually

Baron Baron is a rank of nobility or title of honour, often hereditary, in various European countries, either current or historical. The female equivalent is baroness. Typically, the title denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher than a lord or knig ...

s before they were made

Baronet A baronet ( or ; abbreviated Bart or Bt) or the female equivalent, a baronetess (, , or ; abbreviation Btss), is the holder of a baronetcy, a hereditary title awarded by the British Crown. The title of baronet is mentioned as early as the 14th ...

s by

Charles I Charles I may refer to: Kings and emperors * Charlemagne (742–814), numbered Charles I in the lists of Holy Roman Emperors and French kings * Charles I of Anjou (1226–1285), also king of Albania, Jerusalem, Naples and Sicily * Charles I of ...

in the 1630s. Strictly speaking Robert Mor Munro (d.1588) who Mackenzie designates the 15th Baron was the first true Baron although the Munro chiefs had previously held their lands from the

Earl of Ross The Earl or Mormaer of Ross was the ruler of the province of Ross in northern Scotland. Origins and transfers In the early Middle Ages, Ross was part of the vast earldom of Moray. It seems to have been made a separate earldom in the mid 12th ...

and directly from the crown for centuries before that. In the 1630s Hector Munro of Foulis, traditionally the 19th Baron and 22nd chief of the clan was made a Baronet by king Charles I, thus becoming Sir Hector Munro, 1st Baronet of Foulis. In 1651 Sir Hector Munro, 2nd Baronet of Foulis died without issue. He was succeeded by his cousin Sir Robert Munro, 3rd Baronet, the eldest male representative of the

Munro of Obsdale The Munros of Obsdale were a Scottish family and a cadet branch of the Clan Munro, a Highland Scottish clan. Their base was at Obsdale House, situated just north of the town of Alness in the Scottish Highlands. Some of the members of the Munro of ...

branch of the Clan Munro, who are descended from chief

Robert Mor Munro, 15th Baron of Foulis Robert Mor Munro, 15th Baron of Foulis (died 1588), and 18th chief of the Clan Munro was a 16th-century Scottish chief. He was known as Robert ''Mor'' on account of his large stature. He was the eldest son of Robert Munro, 14th Baron of Foulis. Al ...

(d.1588). In 1848 Sir Hugh Munro, 8th Baronet of Foulis died leaving an only daughter. He was succeeded by his cousin Sir Charles Munro, 9th Baronet who was in fact the eldest male representative of the Munros of Culrain branch of the clan. The Munros of Culrain descend from

George Munro, 1st of Newmore Sir George Munro, 1st of Newmore (1602–1693) was a 17th-century Scottish soldier and member of parliament from the Clan Munro, Ross-shire, Scotland. He was seated at Newmore Castle. Between 1629 and 1634 Munro held command in the Swedish ar ...

who was a son of Col. John Munro, 2nd of Obsdale, who was in turn a grandson of chief Robert Mor Munro, 15th Baron of Foulis (d.1588). Some modern historians have claimed that the Munros of Culcairn, who are descended from

George Munro, 1st of Culcairn George may refer to: People * George (given name) * George (surname) * George (singer), American-Canadian singer George Nozuka, known by the mononym George * George Washington, First President of the United States * George W. Bush, 43rd Preside ...

, who was in turn a son of Sir Robert Munro, 5th Baronet (d.1729) should have become chiefs. It has been claimed, although not proven that because the Munro of Culcairn family was living in London, England, it was assumed that they had died out, even though they had not. In 1935 Chief Sir Hector Munro, 11th Baronet died and was succeeded to the chieftaincy of the Clan Munro by his daughter, Eva Marion Munro. However the Baronetcy was succeeded to by Sir George Hamilton Munro, 12th Baronet, grandson Sir Charles Munro, 9th Baronet. Therefore, the chieftainship of the Clan Munro and Baronetcy of Foulis became separated. See article:

Munro Baronets There have been three baronetcies created for persons with the surname Munro, one in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia and two in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. The Munro Baronetcy, of Foulis in the County of Ross, was created in the Barone ...

. Eva Marion Munro married Col C. H. Gascoigne. Their son, Patrick, took his mother's maiden name, Munro, in order to become chief of the clan. The current chief of the clan is his son, Hector William Munro.

Chiefs

Modern line

Foulis line

Original of Foulis line

Traditional chiefs

The earliest ten chiefs of the Clan Munro cannot be confirmed by contemporary evidence. George Munro traditionally the 7th Baron is recorded as the first chief in the Munro MS History written by George Martine between 1673 and 1697.Munro. R. W. (1978). ''The Munro Tree 1734''. Edinburgh. . Page ii. Robert Munro traditionally the 6th Baron is recorded as receiving a charter during the reign of Robert the Bruce in Robertson's Index of Charters, compiled in 1629 and published in 1798, but this charter cannot be found.Robertson, William (Deputy Keeper of the Records, Scotland) . (1798). ''Robertson's Index of Charters'', no.55, p.2. (Compiled in 1629 and published in 1798). George Munro traditionally the 5th Baron is recorded by 18th-century historian

Alexander Nisbet Alexander Nisbet (bapt. 23 March 1657; died 7 Dec. 1725) was a Scottish lawyer and antiquarian. He is remembered for his works on the subject of heraldry, which are generally considered to be some of the most complete and authoritative ever pr ...

as being on a charter of the early 13th century but this charter cannot be found either.

References

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Chiefs of Clan Munro The chiefs of the Scottish highland Clan Munro, the Munros of Foulis, are according to tradition, descended from a Donald Munro of Foulis who died in 1039. However their descent can only be proved by contemporary evidence back to a Robert de M ...