Lachlan (Maclean) MacLean VIIth of MacLean and IIIrd of Duart (abt. 1394 - abt. 1472)

Born about 1394 in Duart, Mull, Scotland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about Nov 1472 at about age 78 in Duart, Mull, Scotland

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Biography

Lachlan Bronnach (Maclean) MacLean VIIth of MacLean and IIIrd of Duart is a member of Clan MacLean.

Biographical Notes

All the genealogies agree that Lauchlin Bronnach was the seventh MacLean Chief. He was son of Hector Ruadh MacLean, grandson of Lachlan Lubanach, great grandson of John Dubh, great great grandson of Gillecalum, third great grandson of Maoliosa, son of Gilleain, progenitor of the MacLeans and thus the first Chief.

At about age 18 he may have attended his father, Hector Ruadh (6th of Duart), who was second in command to the Lord of the Isles at the Battle of Harlaw in 1411 and where Hector died.

Through out his adult life he was one of John de Yle’s main advisers. His name appears on several charters of the Lord of the Isles in 1415, 1427, 1439, 1440, 1444 and in 1449. In 1450 he attended the Council of the Isles and witnessed more charters in 1456, 1461, 1463. Between 1466 and 1469 he was a witness without designation which suggests his son, Lachlan MacLean was then Chief. ^[1]

Lachlan is credited with being responsable for the death of Sir John Colquhoun of Luss.^[2]

On August 29, 1429, after a defeat by the forces of James I at Lochaber, the Lord of the Isles submitted to the king at Holyrood. Alexander was taken captive and imprisoned at Tantallon Castle in Berwickshire, accompanied by Lachlan MacLean and others.^[3]

On October 30, 1429 at Perth, Lachlan was given royal confirmation of three charters that hade been previously granted to his father in 1409 and grandfather in 1390. King James was attempting to befriend the highlanders instead of mititary force. MacLean-Bristol suspects that it was likely at this time that he married the earl of Mar's illegitimate daughter, Jonata Stewart. This was an important marriage as it connected Duart with one of the most powerful men to serve the king.^[4]

Their future son, Lachlan Og became heir to his father. For this to happen it is likely that Lachlan disinherited his eldest son Donald of Ardgour.^[5]

During Lachlan's rule the dynamic changed in the family. Large parcels of land were granted to some of the MacLean chieftans, in particular to John Garb of Coll and MacLean of Ardgour. This raised their profile and at the same time reduced that of Duart. Coll and Ardgour were now direct tenents of the Lord of the Isles. A new rivalvry was fostered between Duart and Coll, as they were first cousins perhaps they saw an opportunity to gain the Lordship of the Isles of the current line failed.^[6]

Family

Lauchlan, by his first wife, Margaret, daughter of Ferchar Maclean, son of Eachann Reganach MacLean of Lochbuie had issue:

1) Donald of Ardgour

Lauchlan, by his second wife, Jonata Stewart, daughter of Alexander Stewart, earl of Mar and his wife Isobel Douglas had issue:

2) Lachlan Og, heir to his father.

3) Colin mar have married Mor Pauli.

4) John killed by Clann Chatain in Ardgour in 1460.

5) Finvola m. Celestine Macdonald.

6) Magna m. William MacLeod.

7) Neil a Roish pregenitor of the MacLeans of Ross.

Lauchlin Bronnach was Maclean of Duart for at least 50 years. He received the nickname "Bronnach", or swag-bellied, on account of his corpulence.

Sources

1. ↑ Warriors and Priests, page 174.
2. ↑ Warriors and Priests, page 174.
3. ↑ Warriors and Priests, page 44.
4. ↑ Warriors and Priests, page 44.
5. ↑ Warriors and Priests, page 44.
6. ↑ Warriors and Priests, page 62.

Alexander Maclean Sinclair, The Clan Gillean. 1899, Haszard and Moore. http://www.archive.org/stream/clangilleanwithp00sinc#page/55/mode/2up

Nicholas MacLean-Bristol, Warriors and Priests (The History of the Clan MacLean 1300-1570. 1995 Tuckwell Press Ltd., pp. 44, 47, 58, 60-64, 71, 173, 195.