This is one of several articles written by Louis Stott who generously offered local aspects of his scholarship to the archive of Loch Ard Local History Group–our thanks to Louis and his family for this material.

Katharine Atholl, Her Grace the Duchess of Atholl, (1874-1960) was daughter of historian Sir James Ramsay, she became MP for Kinross and Perthshire in 1923 and was the first Conservative woman minister as Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education (1924-29. Katharine was born in Edinburgh, in 1874. She was brought up at Bamff House, but the family moved to London.

Her husband, Marquis of Tullibardine, succeeded to the title and estates (and a heavy debt) of Duke of Atholl in 1917. When Katharine stood for parliament in 1923 it was as Duchess of Atholl, becoming Scotland’s first woman MP (Perth and Kinross) and shortly afterwards, the conservative party’s first woman minister. She became an outspoken opponent of the appeasement policy of Neville Chamberlain, and was deselected by her constituency. She stood as an independent, but was defeated at a by-election in 1938.

J. F. L. Bateman (1810-1889), civil engineer: born in Halifax; early on in his career he became engaged on the Longdendale water works for the city of Manchester (1846-77) and later on the Thirlmere reservoir (1879); he superintended the supply of water to Glasgow from Loch Katrine, 1866-60, works “worthy to bear comparison with the most extensive aqueducts in the world not excluding those of ancient Rome” (James M. Gale): during this period he lived at Tigh na Traigh, Loch Ard; he constructed waterworks for many other authorities in Britain and abroad including those in Perth.

Susanna Blamire (1747-94) Cumbrian poet whose sister, Sarah, married Col Thomas Graham in 1767. Between 1767 and his death in 1773 Susanna spent much time in Scotland with her sister. One of her lost poems celebrated the ‘Lake of Menteith’ while several others became famous songs. The DNB puts it thus: “As a song-writer she deserves to rank very high. She preferred to write songs in the Scottish dialect, and three at least of her songs are exquisite, ‘What ails this heart o’ mine?’, ‘And ye shall walk in silk attire’ (The Siller Croun),  and ‘The Traveller’s Return’.  Another beautiful song, ‘The Waefu’ Heart’, is, with great probability, attributed to her.  In 1871, Sarah Tytler and J. L. Watson included her in The Songstresses of Scotland, asserting that she “adopted Scotland and the Scotch with enthusiasm, and thenceforth wrote Scotch songs like a Scotchwoman”.

Sir David Young Cameron. (1865-1945) Awards Kt, 1924; RA 1920; Positions painter and etcher; HM Painter and Limner in Scotland since 1933. Born Glasgow, 28 June 1865 Pictures in the public collections of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, (Dundee), Perth, Paisley, Greenock, Illustrations for Notes on District of Menteith, by R. B. Cunninghame Graham, edition deluxe, 1930; Highways and Byways in West Highlands. Lived at Dun Eaglais, Kippen, Stirlingshire.

Sir Charles (William) Cayzer, (1843-1916).1st Bt, 1904;

Head of the firm of Cayzer, Irvine and Co., Ltd, Steamship Owners, London, Liverpool, Manchester, and Glasgow; MP Barrow-in-Furness, 1892-1906; Gartmore, Perthshire; Kinpurnie Castle, Forfarshire.

Thomas Clark, (1820–1876), landscape painter, was born in Whiteside, Stirlingshire, on 14 November 1820, He was educated at Dollar Academy, Clackmannanshire. He painted in both oils and watercolours; his subjects were mainly Scottish landscapes, such as Waiting for the Ferry: a Quiet Morning on Loch Awe (exh. Royal Scottish Academy, 1865). However, he also produced paintings of the English Lake District, Devon, and the home counties. He died, unmarried, at Dundarach, Aberfoyle, Perthshire, on 7 October 1876

David Christison, secretary of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, was one of the first to acknowledge the symbology, design and history of gravestones, using those in Aberfoyle, among others, as an illustration. It was he who recognized the significance of Dunadd in Argyll and among many excavations of historic sites he examined Dundochil, Loch Ard. He rented Daldrishaig in 1911.

Lt­Col Archibald Vivian Campbell Douglas Born 6 November 1902; Milngavie, Dunbartonshire; Work2nd Lieut Scots Guards, 1925; Captain 1931; Lt­Col 1943, DL 1953, Dunbartonshire; Mem. of Royal Company of Archers (Queen’s Body Guard for Scotland). Vice Lieutenant Co. Dunbarton, 1957-1968. JP Perthshire, 1962. Address Laraich, Aberfoyle, by Stirling. Telephone: Aberfoyle 232. Death Died 28 October 1977.

Edward Dwelly, [pseud. Ewen MacDonald] (1864–1939), lexicographer, was born on 2 February 1864 at 4 Crown Crescent, Twickenham, Middlesex, the son of Thomas Edward Dwelly and his wife, Clara Isabella, née Hill. His father worked in Cox’s Bank, Charing Cross, London, and Edward began his working career there. But his ambitions did not allow him to stay for long in banking. He was strongly attracted to playing the bagpipes and to learning Scottish Gaelic, and he served in the London Scottish Volunteers, and later in similar units connected with the Argyll and Sutherland and the Seaforth regiments, playing in their pipe bands; by the 1890s he was using the name Ewen MacDonald as one more appropriate for a highland piper.

 Dwelly left London in 1891 and took up work with the Ordnance Survey in Scotland. In 1896 he married Mary MacDougall at Doune, Perthshire. She was a native Gaelic speaker. It was about this time that he began to collect Gaelic vocabulary in a systematic way, corresponding with Gaels in many highland areas and recording local usages in a detailed way, as well as information about implements and practices that were already near the end of their lifespan, including a multiplicity of names for an early-morning dram of whisky. He also made extensive use of previously published Gaelic dictionaries. Lived in Gartmore

Col Henry Robert Eyre (1842-1904). Col Eyre served in the Coldstream Guards His first wife Eva Lucy Mary died in 1895; in 1900 he married Lady Alice Mary Harris. Lived at Dun Dhu, Aberfoyle

Sir Arthur Dalrymple Fanshawe (1847-1936) ADC to Queen Victoria 1895-97 and later Admiral of the Fleet, retired, 1917.

Captain Guy Dalrymple Fanshawe Son of Sir Arthur Fanshawe Joined Royal Navy as midshipman, 1898 involved in response to Boxer Rising, 1900 retired 1923; MP (U) West Stirlingshire, 1924-1929; Parliamentary Private Secretary to Secretary of State for Dominions and Colonies, 1928-1929; lived at Dalveagh. Died 19 June 1962.

Charles de Neuville Forman (1852-1900), engineer of the Strathendrick and Aberfoyle railway and of various other railways in the West of Scotland was the first manager and the first secretary of the Aberfoyle Slate Quarries Company

James Richardson Forman (1823-1900), a Scots Canadian civil engineer who had contributed to numerous civil engineering projects near Glasgow, was the first chairman of Aberfoyle Slate Quarries Company, which became his principal interest in his later business life.

Rt Hon. Lord Forsyth of Drumlean was formerly Sir Michael (Bruce) Forsyth and has been a Director of Robert Fleming & Co. Ltd. since 1997. He was born on 16 October 1954 and educated at Arbroath High School and St Andrews University. He was MP (C) Stirling, 1983-1997 and became Sec. of State for Scotland and Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland, 1995-1997. He lives at Na Logan, Aberfoyle, Stirling FK8 3TJ.

Brig.­Gen. Robert Fanshawe Fox (1862-1939) joined the Army in 1882 and served in South Africa, 1899-1900 (despatches twice) European War, 1914-1915 (despatches). Lived at Couligarten.

 James M. Gale, the chief engineer to the Glasgow Water Works rented Daldrishaig [Local Past] during the building of the new Aqueduct and the damming of Loch Arklet. 

Alexander Graham (1671-[?]1750), married Margaret Stirling of Auchyle in 1718. A Description of Drymen Parish, by Alexander Graham of Duchray, 1724, is to be found in MacFarlane’s Geographical Collections. 

Alexander Graham (1769-1849) who succeeded his cousin Jean when she died in 1797 and became the first ‘Graham-Stirling’. Rednock was substantially rebuilt during his time.

John Graham of Duchray (1600-1700) Highland Hector, or the Tetrarch of Aberfoyle, who accompanied the Marquis of Montrose into battle and, later, supported the Earl of Glencairn. He was tutor to the ‘ good’ marquis.

John Graham of Duchray and Rednock (1721-1790), Capt. 42nd Highlanders. (The Black Watch), married Christian, daughter and heir of Robert Murray [alias MacGregor] of Glencarnock [? Glencarnaig], Perthshire, and died 14 Oct. 1790

Nicol Graham of Gartmore (1695-1775) Laird of Gartmore; a friend of Robert Walpole; his children, in order of seniority, were William (who predeceased him), Robert, John and three daughters – Elizabeth, Isabella and Harriet; wrote An Inquiry into the Causes which facilitate the Rise and Progress of Rebellions in the Highlands of Scotland (1747), a key source of information for Scott’s Rob Roy and other accounts of the Highlands.

Patrick Graham, born 1750, eldest son of WaIter G., schoolmaster of Aberfoyle; educated at Univ. of Glasgow; M.A. (1776~, licensed. by Presb. of Irvine 2nd Oct. 1783; pres. by William, Duke of Montrose, Nov. 1786; ordained 25th April 1787; D.D. (Glasgow, April 1796); died 4th Sept. 1835. He was a profound scholar, an able divine, an elegant writer, and eminent for his literary acquirements. In a note to Rob Roy, Scott speaks of him as one “whose urbanity in communicating information on the subject of national antiquities is scarce exceeded by the stores of legendary lore which he has accumu­lated.” He was long a member of the General Assembly’s committee for revising the Scriptures in Gaelic. He married. 9th Aug. 1790, Catherine Sommers, Greenock Publications: Sketches descriptive of Picturesque Scenery on the Southern Confines of Perthshire (Edinburgh, 1806, 1810, 1812); Essay on the Authenticity of the Poems of Ossian (Edinburgh, 1807); General View of the Agriculture of Stirling­shire (Edinburgh, 1812); General View of the Agriculture of Kinross and Clackmannan (Edinburgh, 1815); Account of the Parish, and its Zoology and Botany in Ac­count of Port of Menteith (Sinclair’s Stat. Ace., x.).[Rob Roy, Note xii)

Robert Graham, of Gartmore (1735-1797), who took the surname Bontine in 1770 and Cunninghame Graham in 1796, was a University alumnus who became a colonial administrator, a politician and a poet. He was Rector, 1785 to 1787, and the Gartmore Gold Medal is named for him.

Born in Gartmore in Stirlingshire, Graham matriculated to study at the University in 1749. In 1753 he went to Jamaica as a planter and subsequently held office there as Receiver-General. He returned to Scotland c1770 and entered a career in politics as an advocate of reform, serving as the Whig MP for Stirlingshire, 1794-1796. He began writing poetry late in life and “If doughty deeds my lady please” became famous after it was set to music by Sir Arthur Sullivan. The song begins:

 Then tell me how to woo thee love;

  O tell me how to woo thee!

 For thy dear sake nae care I’ll take

  Though ne’er another trow me

Robert Graham made several significant literary friendships. Hector MacNeil (1746-1818), the minor poet, was a frequent visitor to Gartmore 1786-90 when he lived near Stirling. Graham almost certainly met him in the West Indies, where he served as a tax collector. There he knew Smollett and was made one of the great author’s trustees. Robert Burns (1759-96) thought Graham “the noblest instance of great talents, great fortune, and great worth that ever I saw.” John Leyden (1775-1811) dedicated a book of poems to a Miss Graham of Gartmore, probably one of William’s daughters.

Robert Bontine Cunninghame Graham, the celebrated writer and politician lived in Gartmore House until its upkeep became too much for him.  A good account of Graham at Gartmore appears in Sir John Lavery’s A Painter’s Life [1940] He painted the famous portrait of Graham which G. B. Shaw used as a prototype both for Captain Brassbound, and for Major Bruntchli in Arms and the Man.  It is in the Kelvingrove Art Gallery, Glasgow who also have a small bronze head by Epstein. At the Playing Field in Gartmore is the Cunninghame Graham Memorial which was erected in 1937 at Castlehill, Dumbarton, and  removed to Gartmore in 1981. Stones marked “Uruguay” and “Argentina” are set into it, as is a memorial plaque to Cunninghame Graham’s horse ‘Pampa’. The inscription reads:

ROBERT BONTINE CUNNINGHAME GRAHAM

    Famous author, traveller, horseman,

   patriotic Scot, and citizen of the World

     as betokened by the stones above.

 Died in Argentina       Interred in Inchmahome

Thomas Graham of Rednock and Duchray, born about 1640, who, in 1669, married Margery, daughter of Colin Campbell of Mochaster, and grand-aunt of the first Marquis of Breadalbane. He was thus the brother-in-law of Robert Kirk whose first wife was Margery’s sister Isobel.

Thomas Graham of Duchray and Rednock (1720-1773), Col., married Sarah Blamire dsp 18 June, 1773. Both he and his brother served with the Black Watch and took part in the famous action against Montcalm at Ticonderoga in 1758.

Edith Burnet Hughes (1888-1971) was born in Edinburgh, in 1888. grand-daughter of the architect John Burnet Senior and niece of Sir John Burnet who brought her up after her father died. She went to Paris to study art and architecture. From there she went to Dresden to study German and Art in October 1909, moved on to Florence to study Italian and Art, extending her studies to Perugia, Siena and Assisi in 1912. She entered Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen to study garden design, but quickly transferred to architecture, and was appointed lecturer in the history of art and architecture at Gray’s, She accepted  a teaching post at Glasgow School of Art in 1920. She set up practice in Glasgow in 1920, and specialised in domestic architecture, particularly in kitchen design. She is considered Britain’s first practising woman architect. In 1932 she designed Dunrivach in Duchray Road, Aberfoyle. She lived in Kippen in later life.

Hugh Kennedy (1826-1895) one-time Provost of Partick, and the contractor to the Strathendrick and Aberfoyle railway and very many other projects lived, at the end of his life in Corrienessan (then Ardend), specifically built for him. In Aberfoyle Kennedy was associated with the Railway and the Slate Quarry and the episcopal Church.

Reverend Robert Kirk [Kirk, Roibeart] was born in 1644 in Aberfoyle where his father (from Edinburgh) was minister, the first generation of his family to be born in the Highlands.  He became the minister of Aberfoyle.  He learned Classical Gaelic and was involved in the complete metrical translation of the Psalms when his wife Isabel Campbell (daughter of Sir Colin Campbell of Mochester) died in 1680.  These Psalms were published in 1684, dedicated to Lord John Murray of Atholl.  His Gaelic vocabulary was printed in 1702, but his Secret Commonwealth of Elves, Fauns, and Fairies (1691) brought him lasting fame.  He died in 1692. 

  Colin Kirk, Writer to the Signet, (Robert Kirk’s son) married Jean, Margaret’s sister, who was second daughter to George Stirling of Herbertshire.

Robert Macgregor, commonly called Rob Roy, (1671-1734) entrepreneur and highland freebooter; baptised, 7 March 1671, in Buchanan parish, but may have been born considerably earlier; in 1689 he was at the Battle of Killiecrankie; in 1691 he [or his father] was the leader of an exceptionally daring raid called the `Her’ship [robbery] of Kippen’; 1693 married Mary Helen, daughter of MacGregor of Comar; by 1693 he had `acquired an interest, by purchase, wadset, or otherwise, to the property of Craigroyston’; engaged in freebooting and cattle trading as a result of which he became indebted to Montrose; appeared to side with the Pretender in 1715; participated in rising in 1719; there were protracted disputes with Montrose including, about 1716, the seizure of  Graham of Killearn and the surprise and capture of Rob at Balquhidder by Montrose, but he escaped; from 1722 he was held at Newgate for his Jacobite sympathies but released by1726; lived until his death in Balquhidder.

“It was on account of the harsh action of the first Duke of Montrose (d. 1742) that Rob Roy Macgregor was driven to freebooting. Rob Roy had been very successful as a cattle dealer, and Montrose advanced him money to purchase cattle on condition that he should share in the profits. It so happened that the speculation of Roy on this occasion resulted in serious loss. Being unable to refund the money he was compelled to deliver up Craigroyston to the duke. From this time Roy maintained himself chiefly by robbing Montrose’s tenants; but, partly owing to the connivance of the Duke of Argyll, Montrose was baffled in his efforts to obtain redress.” [DNB]

Rob Roy had five sons: Coll, Ronald, James, Duncan, and Robert. Not long after his father’s death Robert shot Maclaren of Invernenty and was brought to trial, but the murder was found not proven. Young Robert enlisted in the 42nd regiment. James More distinguished himself on the side of the Pretender in the ’45, and was attainted for high treason, but succeeded in making his peace with the government. James, Duncan, and Robert forcibly abducted Jean Key or Wright, a young widow (who had inherited some property by the death of her husband), from Edinbellie, Balfron, Stirlingshire, in December 1750, and compelled her to marry young Robert. James Mór was tried in 1752. The jury brought in a special verdict of guilty in extenuating circumstances, but while the import of the verdict was under discussion he made his escape, and being outlawed went to France, where he died in great poverty in October 1754. Duncan, was tried in 1753 and found not guilty. Robert, who was apprehended in May 1753, and tried on 24 Dec. following, was condemned to death, and executed on 14 Feb.

William Gauld Maclagan (1903-1972) was Professor of Moral Philosophy, University of Glasgow, 1946-1969. He lived at Dunrivach, Aberfoyle

Sir (Alexander) Kay Muir (1868-1951) Landowner, for example, of the Dukes Pass when it was rebuilt His second marriage in 1924 was to Nadejda, eldest daughter of late Dimitri Stancioff, late Bulgarian Minister in London. Lived at Blair Drummond, Perthshire.

Admiral Edmond Hyde Parker. Born 30 January 1868 Joined HM Navy, 1881; involved in Battle of Jutland (despatches); retired 1923 owned Couligarten Died 19 August 1951.

William Richardson (1743-1814), professor of humanity at Glasgow, was born on 1 Oct. 1743 at Aberfoyle, the son of the parish minister. He was appointed tutor to Lord Cathcart’s two sons, and, for three years (1768-71), served as secretary to Lord Cathcart, ambassador extraordinary at the court of Russia. ‘Tradition has enlisted him in the band of young men who enjoyed the favours of Catherine the Great’. (J.D.Mackie History of the University of Glasgow). Richardson became one of the university’s most respected teachers. John Anderson, Thomas Reid and James Moor were among his colleagues, and his students included Thomas Campbell, John Wilson and John Gibson Lockhart.  nts included Thomas Campbell, who got a prize for Latin, John Wilson (Christopher North), and John Gibson Lockhart. He was newly appointed when Boswell and Johnson were received at the University by the professors. Scott has him as one of the eyewitnesses of the kidnap in 1750 of Jean Key by the sons of Rob Roy. He used to describe as a terrible dream their violent and noisy entrance into the house where he was living The Highlanders filled the little kitchen, brandishing their arms, demanding what they pleased, and receiving whatever they demanded. Richardson was an accomplished minor poet and a prose writer of distinction. His areas of expertise included Shakespeare and Celtic superstitions. His Poems, Chiefly Rural was published in 1774. In ‘A Farewell to Aberfoyle’ Richardson refers to the waterfall near David Marshall Lodge.

        How pleasing to my pensive mind

         The memory of thy bold cascade

After Robert Graham inherited Gartmore in 1775 Richardson moved there, and, Richardson having acquired a cottage at Bridgend of Gartmore, the two renewed an old acquaintanceship. Richardson died unmarried on 3 November 1814.

Sidney Herbert Sime (1864–1941), illustrator and caricaturist, was born in Manchester and attended Liverpool School of Art.  His comic grotesque illustrations were influenced by Aubrey Beardsley. Sime’s uncle left him a house with a small estate at Aberfoyle. For the next few years, he and his wife spent half their time at Aberfoyle, where Sime painted landscapes. With some of his new wealth, Sime bought The Idler and installed himself as co-editor in 1899, but it proved a disastrous investment, and he sold up in 1901. Sime turned to illustrating books, predominantly the fantasies of Edward Plunkett, eighteenth baron of Dunsany. Sime died in Worpelsdon, Surrey where there is a memorial gallery [from the ODNB by Simon Heneage]

Sir William McNair Snadden (1896-1959) MP (U) for Kinross and West Perth, 1938-1955; Joint Parliamentary Under Sec. of State for Scotland, 1951-1955. The Coldoch, Blair Drummond, Perthshire.

Admiral Anselan John Buchanan Stirling (1875-1936) son of Col J. S. Stirling of Gargunnock, Joined HMS Britannia, 1889; served in HMS Barfleur in China during the Boxer Rising in 1900 (severely wounded in an attack on Chinese field guns and invalided home); eventually became Commodore­in­charge, Hong­ Kong; retired 1936.

Some Other Locals

Camshron, Maraighread (Margaret Cameron).  Born on the farm of Clashgour in Glen Orchy to Peter Campbell.  She was married twice and lived in Callander.  The first edition of her poetry was published in 1785, and had the second edition of her poetry published in order to relieve herself of marriage related debt. 

Stiubhart, Iain (Reverend John Stewart).  Born in 1774 to Reverend James Stewart, minister of Killin.  Was minister of Arrochar, Weem, and Luss.  Married Susan Macintyre (daughter of Dr Joseph Macintyre, minister of Glen Orchy) in 1792.  Was among company of ministers who decided c. 1776 to compile a Gaelic dictionary (see NLS 73.3.35).  His sister married Revd James McLagan.  Was employed by the SSPCK to translate sections of the Old Testament into Gaelic (1783 through 1801).  He prepared an improved edition of the Gaelic translation of the New Testament, which was published in 1796.  Died 21 May 1821. 

Mac an Fhùcadair, Iain (John Walker).  Born at Camstradden, close to Luss, c. 1760, where his family had been for some time.  Assisted the Revd John Stuart with his Gaelic translation of the Bible.  Had his poems (in three languages) published in 1817 in Glasgow. 

MacDhiarmaid, Seumas (James MacDiarmid).  Born on the farm of Claggan, Kenmore.  Went to Comrie at the age of six, and wrote of “the persecution I endured from some of the other boys because I was Highland and wore kilts”.  After a few years, he moved to farm of Ach na Frith (‘Auchnafree’) in upper Glenalmond, where he received private education and began as a shepherd at the age of 17.  He later became a joint tenant on the farm of Mòr-innis (‘Morenis’), near Killin.  He later lived in Callander, and Dunrachan on the Drummond Castle Estate.  Wherever he lived, he collected the quickly disappearing Gaelic folklore and contributed a great deal of material to newspapers and journals.  Died c. 1926. 

MacPhàrlain, Donnchadh (Reverend Duncan MacFarlane, senior).  Born in 1708.  Was the factor for MacFarlane of Arrochar as well as the local minister, and was known as Donncha nan Rongus (‘Duncan of the Sticks’) on account of the heavy stick he carried to assert his authority.  He fought off a party of cattle reivers while minister at Arrochar.  Became minister of Drymen in 1743.  Married Ann Allan (daughter of Revd John Allan, minister of Rhu) in January 1768, and fathered three children (including son Reverend Duncan MacFarlane).

MacPhàrlain, Donnchadh (Reverend Duncan MacFarlane, junior).  Succeeded his father as minister of Drymen in 1792.  Was appointed Principal of Glasgow University and as minister of Glasgow Cathedral in 1824.  Married his cousin Ann.  Died in 1857.