Our Clan Chief and Prominent MacGregors

Meet our Clan Chief...

Sir Malcolm MacGregor of MacGregor, Baronet

Sir Malcolm MacGregor of MacGregor is the 24th chief of Clan Gregor and Chieftain of the Children of the Mist, which has been called the most romantic title in Scotland.

He was commissioned into the Scots Guards in 1979 serving in many parts of the world. He served in SE Asia whilst on a two year secondment with 6th Gurkha Rifles. His final appointment in the military was chief of staff of 51 Highland Brigade.

On leaving the army he he embarked on a career in landscape photography. As well has photographing his native Scotland, he spent considerable time in Oman and war torn areas of the world with the HALO trust, a humanitarian mine-clearance charity. He is a Fellow of both the Royal Photographic Society and the Royal Geographical Society.

He has a strong belief in fostering the world-wide kinship of the modern clan, preserving its traditions and promoting its history. He is particularly interested in the value overseas Scots bring to the clan network, through their stories, history, and contributions to preserving a unique history. He has represented Clan Gregor at numerous events throughout the world.

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Prominent McGregors through the ages

Prominent MacGregors through the ages

Meet Lady MacGregor

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Lady MacGregor of MacGregor is otherwise known as British broadcaster, Fiona Armstrong. For many years she ran an Armstrong clan society. Today Fiona is a Vice President of the ‘Clan Gregor Society’. She is Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Dumfries, one of 33 people in Scotland who serve as the Queen’s personal representative in the country.

An award-winning broadcaster and writer, Fiona has worked as a newscaster and reporter for both ITN and BBC News. She has also worked for Sky TV and NBC. Filming for news and current affairs has taken her to Europe, Africa, America and the Far East, covering subjects ranging from politics to social issues like healthcare and landmine removal.

On a lighter note, closer to home she has made programmes on clans, cooking and angling. She currently presents ITV’s ‘Border Life’ a current affairs programme centred on the south of Scotland. She writes columns for ‘The Courier’ newspaper, for ‘Scottish Field’ magazine, and the ‘Scotbanner’. She has a doctorate in Scottish history where she researched the phenomenon of ‘Highlandism’, or how Scotland came to have a tartan face. She also has an honorary doctorate from Glasgow University.

Fiona is one of the UK’s best-known female fly-fishers and has written two books on the subject. She loves swimming, cooking and gardening – and is busy writing a biography of an aristocratic MacGregor lady who worked for Queen Victoria.

Rob Roy (Robert) MacGregor is one of Scotland’s most notable, dynamic and popular historical figures.

He was born at Loch Katrine on the 7th of March 1671, the 3rd son of Chieftain Donald (Glas) Gregor of Glengyle and Margaret Campbell, cousin to John Iain (Glas) Campbell 11th Laird of Glenorchy, and later The Earl of Breadalbane in 1681. Rob Roy was baptised at Buchanan Parish as Robert MacGregor. Because of the proscription he was forced to assume his mother’s name of Campbell.

Rob lived a full and active life. Along with many highland clansmen, at the age of eighteen Rob Roy – together with his father – joined the Jacobite rising of 1689. In July 1717, Rob Roy and the entire Clan Gregor were specifically excluded from the benefits of the Indemnity Act 1717 which effectively pardoned those who took part in the Jacobite risings of 1715.

He became a respected cattleman but lost his business when his Chief Herder disappeared with a large sum of borrowed monies and defaulted on the loan. As a result, he was branded an outlaw, and his wife and family were evicted from their house at Inversnaid which was then burned down. After his principal creditor James Graham, 1st Duke of Montrose, seized his lands Rob Roy waged a private blood feud against the Duke until 1722, when he was forced to surrender. Later imprisoned, he was finally pardoned in 1727. He died in his house at Inverlochlarig Beg, Balquhidder, on 28 December 1734 aged 63.

Meet Rob Roy MacGregor...

The year 1723 saw the publication of a fictionalised account of Rob’s life, The Highland Rogue and as a consequence Rob Roy became a legend in his own lifetime. King George I was moved to issue a pardon for Rob’s crimes just as he was about to be transported to the colonies.

The publication of Rob Roy, by Sir Walter Scott in 1817, further added to his fame and fleshed out his biography. Hector Berlioz was inspired by the book to compose an overture. William Wordsworth wrote a poem called ‘Rob Roy's Grave’ during a visit to Scotland.

A number of films have been produced portraying his life including the silent film Rob Roy (1922), the Walt Disney Productions film Rob Roy, the Highland Rogue (1953), and the Rob Roy (1995) film directed by Michael Caton-Jones, starring Liam Neeson as Rob Roy and which was shot entirely on location in the Scottish Highlands.

A full account of Rob Roy's life and adventures are provided in the member's section... (coming soon!)