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Clan Cameron is a West Highland
Scottish clan A Scottish clan (from Gaelic , literally 'children', more broadly 'kindred') is a kinship group among the Scottish people. Clans give a sense of shared identity and descent to members, and in modern times have an official structure recognis ...
, with one main branch Lochiel, and numerous
cadet branch In history and heraldry, a cadet branch consists of the male-line descendants of a monarch's or patriarch's younger sons ( cadets). In the ruling dynasties and noble families of much of Europe and Asia, the family's major assets—realm, ti ...
es. The Clan Cameron lands are in Lochaber and within their lands lies Ben Nevis which is the highest mountain in the
British Isles The British Isles are a group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-western coast of continental Europe, consisting of the islands of Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the Northern Isles (O ...
. The Chief of the clan is customarily referred to as simply "Lochiel".


History


Origins

The origins of Clan Cameron are uncertain and there are several theories. Traditionally, it is believed that the Camerons were originally descended from a Danish prince who assisted the restoration of Fergus II and that their progenitor was called ''Cameron'' from his crooked nose ( gd, cam-shròn, cf. Camshron) – such nicknames were and are common in Gaelic culture, and that his dependants then adopted the name.Clan Cameron History
electricscotland.com. Retrieved 4 May 2013
It is believed that this first chief married Marion, sister of Banquo, Thane of Lochaber and a daughter of Kenneth III of Scotland. Another possible origin is that Donald Dubh, the first confirmed chief, was descended from the mediaeval family of Cameron of Ballegarno in
Fife Fife (, ; gd, Fìobha, ; sco, Fife) is a council area, historic county, registration county and lieutenancy area of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries with Perth and Kinross ...
. Sometime around the beginning of the 15th century (or possibly earlier) the Camerons established themselves as a Highland clan in the western end of the Great Glen in Lochaber. It is likely they did so through the marriage of a local heiress of the ''Mael-anfhaidh'' kindred (''Clan Mael-anfaidh'', which Moncreiffe translates as "children of He who was Dedicated to the Storm"). The ''Collins Scottish Clan Encyclopedia'' states that the heiress was from the MacMartin of Letterfinlay family. By the 15th century, after the Mael-anfhaidh chiefship had passed into the Cameron family, the local families of MacMartin of Letterfinlay, MacGillonie of Strone and MacSorley of Glen Nevis were absorbed within the incoming Clan Cameron. In consequence, the early chiefs of the Highland Camerons were sometimes styled "MacGillonay". Studies of Manuscript 1467 have thrown closer light on the relationships between the Camerons, MacGillonies, MacMartins and others. Since the 15th century though, Clan Cameron chiefs have been more commonly styled ''Mac Dhomnuill Dubh'', in reference to the first Cameron chief whom succession can be traced. Donald Dubh was the first "authentic" chief or captain of this confederation of tribes which gradually became known as the Clan Cameron, taking the name of their captain as the generic name of the whole, until the clan was first officially recognized by that name in a charter of 1472.


Wars of Scottish Independence

According to tradition, during the Wars of Scottish Independence, the Clan Cameron fought for King
Robert the Bruce Robert I (11 July 1274 – 7 June 1329), popularly known as Robert the Bruce (Scottish Gaelic: ''Raibeart an Bruis''), was King of Scots from 1306 to his death in 1329. One of the most renowned warriors of his generation, Robert eventuall ...
, led by John de Cameron, VII Chief against the English at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 and later led by the VIII Chief John de Cameron at the Battle of Halidon Hill in 1333.


14th century and clan conflicts

It was in the time of chief Allan MacDonald Dubh Cameron, XII Chief of Clan Cameron that a feud began with the
Clan Mackintosh Clan Mackintosh (''Clann Mhic an Tòisich'') is a Scottish clan from Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. The chiefs of the clan are the Mackintoshes of Mackintosh. Another branch of the clan, the Mackintoshes of Torcastle, are the chiefs of ...
and Clan Chattan that continued sporadically for about 300 years. The first recorded battle was the
Battle of Drumlui The Battle of Drumlui was a Scottish clan battle that took place in either 1330 or 1337, in the Scottish Highlands between the Clan Cameron and the Clan Mackintosh. Background The parents of William Mackintosh, 7th chief of Clan Mackintosh and ...
in 1337 in which a dispute arose between the Clan Mackintosh and Clan Cameron over land at Glenlui and Loch Arkaig. This was followed by the
Battle of Invernahoven The Battle of Invernahavon was a Scottish clan battle between the Clan Cameron and the confederation of Clan Chattan that consisted of the Clan Mackintosh, Clan Macpherson, and Clan Davidson. Some sources give the date as 1386, others as 13 ...
in 1370, also against the Mackintoshes and Clan Chattan. The Battle of the North Inch was fought in 1396 as a trial by combat, between thirty selected warriors on each side from the Clan Cameron and Chattan Confederation of Clan Mackintosh.


15th century and clan conflicts

In 1411 the Clan Cameron fought at the Battle of Harlaw near Inverurie in Aberdeenshire in support of Domhnall of Islay, Lord of the Isles, chief of Clan Donald who claimed the title of Earl of Ross. Their enemy was Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany. The Camerons also fought at the Battle of Lochaber in 1429, between forces led by Alexander of Islay, Earl of Ross, 3rd Lord of the Isles and the royalist army of King James I of Scotland. Shortly after this the Camerons again fought against the Mackintoshes and Clan Chattan at the
Battle of Palm Sunday The Battle of Palm Sunday also known as the Massacre of Palm Sunday was a Scottish clan battle that took place in 1429 in the Scottish Highlands between the Clan Cameron and the confederation of Clan Chattan. Historical accounts The battle is m ...
in 1429, at the instigation of the Lord of the Isles. In 1431 the Clan Cameron fought at the Battle of Inverlochy (1431) against the Clan Donald whose chief Alexander of Islay, Earl of Ross had been imprisoned by the king. The MacDonalds were then led by Alexander's nephew, Donald Balloch MacDonald who defeated the royalist army led by the Earl of Mar. In 1439 the Clan Cameron fought against the Clan Maclean at the Battle of Corpach. In 1441 another battle with the Mackintoshes, the
Battle of Craig Cailloc The Battle of Craig Cailloch was a Scottish clan battle fought in 1441 between the Clan Cameron and Clan Mackintosh (who were part of the Chattan Confederation). The two clans had defected from Alexander of Islay, Earl of Ross during his wa ...
, was fought. In 1472 Alan MacDonald Dubh, 12th Chief of the Clan Cameron was made constable of Strome Castle on behalf of the Clan MacDonald of Lochalsh. He was later killed in battle in 1480 fighting the Mackintoshes and MacDonalds of Keppoch. In 1491 the Clan Cameron took part in the Raid on Ross.Raid on Ross
clan-cameron.org. Retrieved 2013-10-19.


16th century and clan conflicts

In 1505, during
Dubh's Rebellion Dubh's Rebellion refers to a series of conflicts in which Scottish nobleman Donald Dubh revolted against the rule of various Scottish monarchs. Fought from 1501–1505 and in 1545, the rebellions ended with the Scottish Crown crushing the rebels. ...
, the Battle of Achnashellach is said to have taken place between the Camerons against the Clan Munro and the Clan Mackay. During the Anglo-Scottish Wars the Clan Cameron chief, Ewen Cameron and a portion of his men survived fighting against the English army at the
Battle of Flodden The Battle of Flodden, Flodden Field, or occasionally Branxton, (Brainston Moor) was a battle fought on 9 September 1513 during the War of the League of Cambrai between the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland, resulting in an English ...
in 1513. In 1544, a feud took place over the disputed chiefship of the Clan MacDonald of Clan Ranald and this resulted in the Battle of the Shirts where the Camerons provided archers in support of the MacDonalds against the Clan Fraser of Lovat who were defeated. Legend has it that only five Frasers and eight MacDonalds survived. The Camerons subsequently carried out successful raids upon the Clan Grant and Clan Fraser lands, which were incredibly rich and fertile to the Lochaber men. Owing to his role in this conflict Ewen Cameron fell into disfavour with the Earl of Huntly, Chief of Clan Gordon and Lieutenant of the North. Chief Ewen Cameron would be executed as a result of this battle and other actions at Elgin in 1547. The
Battle of Bun Garbhain The Battle of Bun Garbhain was a Scottish clan battle fought in 1570, in the Scottish Highlands, between the Clan Cameron and the Clan Mackintosh. Invasion Donald Dubh Cameron, XV Chief of Clan Cameron, died, leaving an infant son, Allan, at th ...
was fought in 1570 when Donald Dubh Cameron, XV Chief of Clan Cameron, had died, leaving an infant son, Allan, at the head of the clan. During the battle the Chief of MacKintosh is believed to have been killed by
Donald 'Taillear Dubh na Tuaighe' Cameron Donald Cameron (born c. 1550), known as Black Taylor of the Axe ( Scottish Gaelic ''Taillear Dubh na Tuaighe'') was a famed warrior of the Scottish Highlands during the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots. Born illegitimate, his father was Ewen Ca ...
, (son of the XIV Chief of Clan Cameron), with a fearsome Lochaber axe. In 1594 Allen Cameron, XVI Chief of Clan Cameron led the clan at the Battle of Glenlivet in support of George Gordon, 1st Marquess of Huntly, Chief of Clan Gordon who defeated the forces of Archibald Campbell, 7th Earl of Argyll, Chief of Clan Campbell.


17th century and Civil War

During the Civil War at the Battle of Inverlochy 1645, Clan Cameron fought on the side of the Royalist Scots and Irish who defeated the Scottish Covenanters of Clan Campbell. The clan continued to oppose
Oliver Cromwell Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English politician and military officer who is widely regarded as one of the most important statesmen in English history. He came to prominence during the 1639 to 1651 Wars of the Three K ...
, and played a leading role in
Glencairn's rising Glencairn's rising was a Royalist revolt in Scotland against the Protectorate of Oliver Cromwell from 1653 to 1654. It was led by William Cunningham, 9th Earl of Glencairn (1610–1664), who was given command of the Royalist forces in Scotland ...
of 1651 to 1654. The Stand-off at the Fords of Arkaig 1665 – a standoff without bloodshed that saw the Camerons finally end their 328-year feud with the Chattan Confederation, led by the Clan Mackintosh. In 1668, Sir Ewen Cameron, XVII Chief of Clan Cameron was responsible for keeping the peace between his men and Clan Mackintosh. However, when he was away in London a feud broke out between Clan MacDonald and the Mackintoshes. As Sir Ewen was away he was not able to hold back his clan, and they made a minor contribution to the MacDonald victory over the Mackintoshes and Mackenzies at the Battle of Mulroy, east of Spean Bridge. The Clan Cameron fought as Jacobites at the Battle of Killiecrankie in July, 1689, the Battle of Dunkeld in August, 1689, and the
Battle of Cromdale The Battle of Cromdale took place at the Haughs of Cromdale on 30 April and 1 May 1690. The site is on a hillside near the village of Cromdale, then in Inverness-shire and now in the Highland council area. The battlefield has been included in t ...
in May, 1690.


18th century and Jacobite risings

During the
Jacobite rising of 1715 The Jacobite rising of 1715 ( gd, Bliadhna Sheumais ; or 'the Fifteen') was the attempt by James Edward Stuart (the Old Pretender) to regain the thrones of England, Ireland and Scotland for the exiled Stuarts. At Braemar, Aberdeenshire ...
the Clan Cameron supported the Jacobite cause fighting at the Battle of Sheriffmuir. They later fought at the Battle of Glen Shiel in 1719, after which the 18th Chief John Cameron of Lochiel, after hiding for a time in the
Scottish Highlands The Highlands ( sco, the Hielands; gd, a’ Ghàidhealtachd , 'the place of the Gaels') is a historical region of Scotland. Culturally, the Highlands and the Lowlands diverged from the Late Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland ...
, made his way back to exile in France. General Wade's report on the Highlands in 1724, estimated the clan strength at 800 men. When Charles Edward Stuart landed in
Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to th ...
in August 1745 he was met by the Lochiel, 19th Clan Chief, who pledged his Clan's full support. The Jacobite rising of 1745 might never had happened if Lochiel had not come out with his clan. The Clan Cameron fought as Jacobites at the Battle of Prestonpans (1745), Battle of Falkirk (1746), and on the frontline at the Battle of Culloden (16 April 1746). After the Battle of Culloden, Donald Cameron of Lochiel, also known as ''Gentle Lochiel'', took refuge in France, where he died in October 1748. The MacMartins, a sept of Clan Cameron, are said to have been amongst the most loyal and valuable followers of Lochiel. In the 1745 Jacobite rising, the MacMartins were "out with" Lochiel's regiment. A Cameron clansman,
John Du Cameron John Du Cameron ( gd, Iain Dubh Camshròn) (executed 23 November 1753) was a Scottish Sergeant in the French Royal Army who came back to Scotland to fight for Prince Charles Edward Stuart during the Jacobite rising of 1745. When the rebellion fai ...
who was known as ''Sergeant Mor'', who had fought as a Jacobite and then continued to steal cattle and blackmail people, was eventually captured in 1753 and executed. Dr Archibald Cameron of Lochiel who was the chief's brother and a leading Jacobite was also captured and executed in 1753. The 79th (The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders) Regiment of Foot was raised from among the members of the clan in 1793 by
Sir Alan Cameron of Erracht Lieutenant-General Sir Alan Cameron of Erracht (1753 – 9 March 1828) was a Scottish soldier who, at his own expense in 1793, raised the 79th Regiment of Foot (Cameron Highlanders). Military career Born in Erracht, near Banavie in Lochaber, C ...
(1753–1828). Colonel John Cameron (1771–1815), son of Ewen Cameron, 1st Baronet and grandson of John Cameron of Fassiefern – a brother of the Gentle Lochiel, was another distinguished military commander, whose family became baronets as a result of his martial success. Charles Cameron (1745–1812) was a noted architect in
Imperial Russia The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War. T ...
, and a favourite of Catherine the Great. His works include
Tsarskoye Selo Tsarskoye Selo ( rus, Ца́рское Село́, p=ˈtsarskəɪ sʲɪˈlo, a=Ru_Tsarskoye_Selo.ogg, "Tsar's Village") was the town containing a former residence of the Russian imperial family and visiting nobility, located south from the c ...
and Pavlovsk Palace. Despite claiming kinship to Dr Archibald, his relationship to the Camerons of Lochiel remains uncertain.


19th and 20th centuries


Highland Clearances

After Culloden Clan Cameron's land was forfeited and reverted to the government. In 1784 it was returned to Donald Cameron 22nd of Lochiel, grandson of the "Gentle Lochiel", who was only 15 at the time. The land was managed by a trust until 1819, when Donald Cameron succeeded to his inheritance. The first clearance took place in 1801 at Clunes. Major emigrations, notably to Canada, began in 1802. The clearances continued under the name of Donald Cameron 22nd of Lochiel when he took over from the Trust in 1819. The Clan Cameron Museum at Achnacarry has a display of Cameron history including an account of the Cameron clearances. The library also has copies of the books referenced in this section. Some traditional Cameron land, on the eastern side of Loch Lochy, was not returned in 1784. In 1770 control had passed to the Duke of Gordon who proceeded to raise rents and clear the land with the aid of his Factor,
the Revd The Reverend is an honorific style most often placed before the names of Christian clergy and ministers. There are sometimes differences in the way the style is used in different countries and church traditions. ''The Reverend'' is correctly ...
John Anderson. The Duke's clearances from the Lochaber Estate through his reverend factotum went on until 1806. Many Camerons around the world trace their origins to people removed from their lands during the Highland Clearances.


Napoleonic Wars

During the Revolutionary War and
Napoleonic Wars The Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) were a series of major global conflicts pitting the French Empire and its allies, led by Napoleon I, against a fluctuating array of European states formed into various coalitions. It produced a period of Fren ...
John Cameron of Fassiefern fought with distinction in widespread theatres from 1793 onwards, before being killed at the head of the 92nd Regiment at Quatre Bras, two days before Waterloo. Donald Cameron the XXIII Chief fought with distinction at the
Battle of Waterloo The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815, near Waterloo (at that time in the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, now in Belgium). A French army under the command of Napoleon was defeated by two of the armies of the Seventh C ...
with the
Grenadier Guards "Shamed be whoever thinks ill of it." , colors = , colors_label = , march = Slow: " Scipio" , mascot = , equipment = , equipment ...
. He retired in 1832. Later that same year he married Lady Vere, daughter of Hon George Vere Hobart and sister of the 6th
Earl of Buckinghamshire Earl of Buckinghamshire is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1746 for John Hobart, 1st Baron Hobart. History The Hobart family descends from Henry Hobart, who served as Attorney General and Lord Chief Justice of the ...
. Lady Vere Hobart was descended from the Camerons of Glenderrary.


World War I

During World War I the XXV Chief of Clan Cameron raised four additional battalions of the Cameron Highlanders and in 1934 he was appointed a Knight of the Thistle.


World War II

Notably, the Cameron Highlanders were the last battalions that wore the kilt in battle, due to the purposeful delaying of orders by
commanding officers The commanding officer (CO) or sometimes, if the incumbent is a general officer, commanding general (CG), is the officer in command of a military unit. The commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitu ...
in the battalions (no one wanted to give up the kilt) and a surprise attack by the Germans (successfully repelled). For this they earned the nickname of 'Ladies from Hell'. Sir Donald Cameron 26th of Lochiel, who served with the regiment later becoming Honorary Colonel, was appointed KT in 1973.


Chiefs


Castles

* Tor Castle: Ewen Cameron, XIII Chief of Camerons, built "Tor Castle" in the early 15th century. It was abandoned (but not torn down) by his great-great-great-grandson Sir Ewen "Dubh" Cameron of Lochiel, XVII Chief of Camerons. Tor Castle was used by the Camerons as a refuge from attacks by the Clan MacDonald of Keppoch. * Achnacarry Castle: Chief Sir Ewen wanted a more "convenient house" and built Achnacarry Castle circa 1655, which was burned to the ground by Hanoverian forces following the Battle of Culloden in 1746. In 1802, Donald Cameron, XXII Chief, built a new mansion house at Achnacarry, after repaying a huge fine to the British Government to regain the estates of his ancestors. The house remains, near the line of trees that Lochiel (the Gentle) planted on the day that he heard of the landing of Bonnie Prince Charlie. There is a museum in a cottage nearby, founded by Sir Donald Cameron of Lochiel in 1989. *The Camerons of Lochiel also had a castle on Eilean nan Craobh (Tree Island) in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.Eilean Nan Craobh
rcahms.gov.uk. Retrieved 8 April 2014.


Tartans

* Basic Clan Cameron * Cameron of Lochiel * Cameron of Erracht * Hunting Cameron (of Lochiel)


See also

*
Cameron (disambiguation) Cameron may refer to: People * Clan Cameron, a Scottish clan * Cameron (given name), a given name (including a list of people with the name) * Cameron (surname), a surname (including a list of people with the name) ;Mononym * Cam'ron (born 197 ...
* Battle of Culloden * Jacobite risings *
Eilean Munde Eilean Munde is a small uninhabited island in Loch Leven, close to Ballachulish. It is the site of a chapel built by St. Fintan Mundus (also known as Saint Fintan Munnu), who travelled here from Iona in the 7th century. The church was burnt in 14 ...


References


External links


Clan Cameron MuseumClan Cameron Interactive NetworkAssociation ScotlandClan Cameron OnlineClan Cameron AustraliaClan Cameron Association of New ZealandLochielAchnacarryClan Cameron Gathering WebsiteCameron Tartans
{{Scottish clans
Cameron Cameron may refer to: People * Clan Cameron, a Scottish clan * Cameron (given name), a given name (including a list of people with the name) * Cameron (surname), a surname (including a list of people with the name) ;Mononym * Cam'ron (born 197 ...