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Sir Allan Maclean, 6th Baronet, 4th Laird of Brolas, 2nd Lord Maclean and 22nd Clan Chief
File:Sir Allan Maclean.jpg
Born 1710
Torloisk
Died December 10, 1783 (age 73)
Title 22nd Clan Chief
6th Baronet
4th Laird of Brolas
2nd Lord Maclean
Term 1750–1783
Predecessor Sir Hector Maclean, 5th Baronet, third cousin
Successor Sir Hector Maclean, 7th Baronet, fourth cousin
Parents Donald Maclean, 3rd Laird of Brolas

Sir Allan Maclean, 6th Baronet of Morvern (1710 – 10 December 1783) was the 22nd Chief of Clan Maclean from 1750 till his death in 1783.[1] He was the 4th Laird of Brolas.[2] He died without leaving an heir to his title and the title was bestowed on his closest living male relative, a fourth cousin, Sir Hector Maclean, 7th Baronet.[3]

Early years[]

He was born in 1710 in Torloisk to Donald Maclean, 3rd Laird of Brolas.[3][4] He became the Clan Maclean Chief when Sir Hector Maclean, 5th Baronet, his third cousin, died without an heir in 1750.[5]

Military career[]

He began his military career in the service of Holland as lieutenant in a brigade of Scotch Highlanders, and was in the assault and capture of Bergen-op-Zoom. He then obtained a commission in the 60th or royal American regiment, of which he was for some time an adjutant. He served as a captain in the expedition of General Wolfe in 1759 for the conquest of Canada, and was afterward appointed to the command of the New York independent company, with which he was present at the Battle of Ticonderoga, where he was severely wounded. He was again wounded at the action that immediately preceded the surrender of Fort Niagara. At the end of the Canadian war he returned to England. On the revolt of the American colonies he was promoted to the rank of colonel, he and his men were instrumental in the defeat of Benedict Arnold before Quebec. The garrison consisted of 50 fusileers and 350 Highland emigrants, and 700 militia and seamen. Sir Guy Carleton was occupied with arrangements for the general defense of the colony, so the defense of the town was entrusted to Maclean. Some of the faint-hearted and disaffected were now inclined to open the gates to the enemy, but were held in check by Maclean, who guarded the gate with his Highlanders, forbade all communication with the besiegers, and fired upon their flag, an ensign of rebellion, with the result that, after Richard Montgomery was killed, Arnold abandoned the siege and left the country. Colonel Maclean was subsequently stationed at Fort Niagara, and was in the Battle of Eutaw Springs with his regiment. He was promoted brigadier-general after leaving North America.[1]

Marriage and children[]

He married Anne, daughter of Hector Maclean of Coll and had the following daughters:

  • Maria Maclean, married Charles Maclean of Kinlochaline
  • Sibella Maclean, married John Maclean of Inverscadell
  • Ann Maclean, married Dr. Mackenzie Grieve of Edinburgh

His wife died in 1760.[3][5]

Later years and death[]

Sir Allan entertained Samuel Johnson and James Boswell on Inch Kenneth in October of 1773.[6] Allan Maclean died in 1783 or 1784 without a son and his title went to a fourth cousin, Sir Hector Maclean, 7th Baronet.[1]

Ancestors[]

Sir Allan Maclean, 6th Baronet, 4th Laird of Brolas and 22nd Clan Chief's ancestors in three generations
Sir Allan Maclean, 6th Baronet, 4th Laird of Brolas and 22nd Clan Chief Father:
Donald Maclean, 3rd Laird of Brolas
Paternal Grandfather:
Lauchlan Maclean, 2nd Laird of Brolas
Paternal Great-Grandfather:
Donald Maclean, 1st Laird of Brolas
Paternal Great-grandmother:
Florence, daughter of John Garbh Maclean, 7th Laird of Coll
Paternal Grandmother:
Isabella Maclean of Torloisk
Paternal Great-Grandfather:
Hector Maclean, 2nd Laird of Torloisk
Paternal Great-Grandmother:
Catherine, daughter of John Campbell of Lochnell
Mother:
Isabella MacLean of Ardgour
Maternal Grandfather:
Allan Maclean, 10th Laird of Ardgour
Maternal Great-Grandfather:
Ewen Maclean, 9th Laird of Ardgour
Maternal Great-Grandmother:
Mary, daughter of Lachlan Maclean of Lochbuie
Maternal Grandmother:
Anne Cameron of Lochiel
Maternal Great-grandfather:
Sir Ewen Cameron of Lochiel
Maternal Great-Grandmother:
Isabel, daughter of Sir Lachlan Maclean, 1st Baronet

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "Sir Allan MacLean". Appletons Cyclopedia. 1890. "Sir Allan MacLean, was a British soldier, born at Torloish, Scotland, about 1725; died there in 1784. He began his military career in the service of Holland as lieutenant in a brigade of Scotch Highlanders, and was in the assault and capture of Bergen-op-Zoom. He subsequently obtained a commission in the 60th or royal American regiment, of which he was for some time adjutant. He served as a captain in the expedition of General Wolfe in 1759 for the conquest of Canada, and was afterward appointed to the command of the New York independent company, with which he was present at the battle of Ticonderoga, where he was severely wounded. He was again dangerously wounded at the action that immediately preceded the surrender of Niagara. At the end of the Canadian war he returned to England. On the revolt of the American colonies he was promoted to the rank of colonel, he and his men were mainly instrumental in the defeat of Arnold before Quebec. The garrison consisted, besides 50 fusiliers and 350 Highland emigrants, of 700 militia and seamen. Sir Guy Carleton being occupied with arrangements for the general defense of the colony, the defense of the town was entrusted to Colonel MacLean. Some of the faint-hearted and disaffected were now inclined to open the gates to the enemy, but were held in check by MacLean, who guarded the gate with his Highlanders, forbade all communication with the besiegers, and fired upon their flag, an ensign of rebellion, with the result that, after Richard Montgomery was killed, Arnold abandoned the siege and left the country. Colonel MacLean was subsequently stationed at Niagara, and was in the battle of Eutaw Springs with his regiment. He was promoted brigadier-general after leaving this country." 
  2. ^ "MacLean". Electric Scotland. http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/m/maclean2.html. Retrieved 2007-08-26. "This third cousin, Sir Allan Maclean, was great-grandson of Donald Maclean of Brolas, eldest son, by his second marriage, of Hector Maclean of Dowart, the father of the first baronet. Sir Allan married Anne, daughter of Hector Maclean of Coll, and had three daughters, the eldest of whom, Maria, became the wife of Maclean of Kinlochaline, and the second, Sibella, of Maclean of Inverscadell. In 1773, when Johnson and Boswell visited the Hebrides, Sir Allan was chief of the clan. He resided at that time on Inchkenneth, one of his smaller islands, in the district of Mull, where he entertained his visitors very hospitably. ... Dying without make issue in 1783, Sir Allan was succeeded by his kinsman, Sir Hector, 7th baronet; on whose death, Nov.2d, 1818, his brother, Lieutenant-general Sir Fitzroy Jefferies Grafton Maclean of Morvern, and Donald Maclean of the chancery bar. Sir Charles, 9th baronet, married a daughter of the Hon and Rev Jacob Marsham, uncle of the Earl of Romney, and has issue, a son, Fitzroy Donald, major 13th dragoons, and four daughters, one of whom, Louisa, became the wife of Hon Ralph Pelham Neville, son of the Earl of Abergavenny." 
  3. ^ a b c de la Caillemotte de Massue de Ruvigny, Melville Amadeus Henry Douglas Heddle (1904). The Jacobite Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage and Grants of Honour. http://books.google.com/books?id=WrUEAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA98&output=text. "Allan (Maclean), second Lord Maclean, sixth Baronet, cousin and next heir-male, being the only son and heir of Donald Maclean of Brolas, by Isabella, daughter of Allan Maclean of Ardgour, which Donald was the only son and heir of Lauchlan Maclean, son and heir of Donald Maclean, both of Brolas, who was the second son of Hector Og Maclean of Duart, which Hector Og was, through his eldest son, Sir Lauchlan Maclean, first Baronet, the great-great-grandfather of the first Lord Maclean. In 1745 he joined the Argyleshire Militia, and fought against Prince Charles. He died s.p.m. 10th December 1783. He married Anne, daughter of Hector Maclean of Coll. He had issue 1. Hon, Maria Maclean, married Charles Maclean of Kinlochaline. 2. Hon. Sibella Maclean, married John Maclean of Inverscadell. 3. Hon. Ann Maclean, married Dr. Mackenzie Grieve of Edinburgh." 
  4. ^ MacLean, John Patterson (1889). A History of the Clan MacLean from Its First Settlement at Duard Castle, in the Isle of Mull, to the Present Period: Including a Genealogical Account of Some of the Principal Families Together with Their Heraldry, Legends, Superstitions, Etc.. R. Clarke & Company. http://books.google.com/books?id=tQs2AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA224&dq=%22Laird+of+Brolas%22&ei=b4ikSaD5JJHIM5uWrb8B. "Sir Allan MacLean, Bart., Twenty-second Chief of MacLean, And the Sixth Baronet of Morvern. Sir Allan in his youth embraced a military life. The first notice of his military career is as captain under the earl of Drumlanrig in the service of Holland. On the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle the regiment was reduced, and Sir Allan returned home on half pay. He then married Una, fourth daughter of Hector MacLean of Coll. He then obtained a commission in the Montgomery Highlanders, and was captain-commandant of the nine additional companies sent to reinforce the three Highland regiments then in America, where he staid until the final conquest of Canada, which occurred in 1700. He then returned to Britain on leave of absence, and obtained a major's commission in a corps raised by Colonel Charles Fitzroy (afterward lord Southampton), in which he served until the close of the "Seven Years' War," in 17G3. The regiment [of] Sir Allan Maclean then being reduced, he retired on half pay, but subsequently attained the rank of colonel. With his three daughters, his wife having died while he was in America, he leased the island of Inch Kenneth, and there took up his residence. With their servants, they comprised the only inhabitants of the island. Here Sir Allan maintained the dignity and authority of his birth, living in plenty and with elegance. It was here that he entertained the celebrated Dr. Samuel Johnson from October 17 to 19, 1773. At that time he was engaged in an expensive and tedious law-suit with John Campbell, fifth duke of Argyle. This family, not content with the seizure of the estates of Duard, had also possessed themselves of the lands of Brolass.* For the recovery of his rights, Sir Allan commenced his law-suit. Dr. Johnson's sympathies were enlisted in his behalf. His attorneys were Boswell and MacLaurin. Boswell, writing to Dr. Johnson from Edinburgh, July, 1777, says : " Sir Allan MacLean has carried that branch of his cause, of which we had good hopes; the president and only one other judge were against him. I wish the house of lords may do as well as the court of sessions has done. But Sir Allan has not the lands of Brolass quite cleared by this judgment, till a large account is made up of debts and interest on the one side, and rents on the other. 1 am, however, not much afraid of the balance." There are many of Sir Allan's letters, addressed to John MacLean of Lochbuy, in the Lochbuie Charter Room. In one of them, dated Inch, September 13, 1779, he speaks of his "tedious, expensive law process with the duke of Argyle" as nearly ended. He grained a portion of his ancient patrimony, and lived to settle up his affairs. He died on Inch Kenneth, December 10, 1783. Sir Allan's only son died in infancy. His daughter Maria was married to Charles MacLean of Kinlochaline; Sibella married John MacLean of Inverscadell by whom she had a son and daughter; and Ann died unmarried. ..." 
  5. ^ a b "Sir Allan Maclean". http://www.ambaile.org/en/item/item_illustration.jsp?item_id=2166. Retrieved 2009-03-04. "Sir Allan Maclean of Brolas (1710-1783) became the 21st [sic] Chief of the clan Maclean and 6th Baronet of Nova Scotia on the death of his third cousin Sir Hector Maclean. At the time the Maclean clan were second only to the MacDonalds amongst Highland families. Sir Allan fought in the British army during the American War of Independence but following the death of his wife in 1760 he returned to Scotland to provide for his three daughters. At the time of Johnson and Boswell's tour of the Highlands, Sir Allan was living on the small island of Inch Kenneth, off the west coast of Mull, with his daughters. Johnson and Boswell visited him there in 1773." 
  6. ^ Argyll: An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments and Constructions of Scotland. 1971. ISBN 0114915911. http://books.google.com/books?id=Q7BzAAAAIAAJ&q=%22Sir+Allan+Maclean,+6th+Baronet%22&dq=%22Sir+Allan+Maclean,+6th+Baronet%22&ei=RA-uSe2kOKTmyASlnriQBQ&pgis=1. "The island achieved celebrity as the residence of Sir Allan MacLean, 6th Baronet of Duart, who entertained Johnson and Boswell there in October 1773. ..." 
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