Clan Macnaghten

The Clan Macnaghten are amongst the Scottish clans who claim descent from the early Pictish rulers of the Mormaer of Moray.[5] The name Nectan means pure or clear and was popular in at least one Pictish royal branch.[5]

Three brothers are recorded in the thirteenth century: Gilchrist, Athe and Gilbert, all sons of Malcolm Macnachten.[5] Before 1287 Gilchrist received a charter from Alexander III of Scotland who died in 1287 which granted to him the keepership of a castle on the island of Fraoch Eilean (Heather Isle) in Loch Awe warding the eastern approach to the narrow Pass of Brander, which was the gateway to the west.[5]

The Macnaghtens came to Loch Awe and as a result became neighbours of the powerful and acquisitive Clan Campbell.[5] The Campbells were quick to support Robert the Bruce when he set out to claim his throne; however, the Macnaghtens, who were under the influence of the Clan MacDougall, opposed him.[5] The Macnaghtens formed part of the MacDougall host that fought against Robert the Bruce's army at the Battle of Dalrigh in 1306 but had changed sides and joined Bruce at the August 1308 Battle of the Pass of Brander.[5] The Macnaghtens continued their new allegiance and a Baron Macnachten (possibly Alexander Macnachten) is recorded as fighting at the Battle of Bannockburn for the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence.[5] The Macnaghtens did not gain much from their late change of allegiance and from that point onwards the Campbells dominated Loch Awe.[5]

The second wife of Alexander Macnaghten, who may be a son of the man who fought at Bannockburn, was his cousin Christina Campbell of Craignish.[5] When she became a widow about 1360 she granted one third of the Macnaghten lands in 1361 to obtain protection from her cousin, Colin Campbell of Lochow and his blessing to marry his servant.[5] Alexander Macnaghten's son, Duncan, succeeded to the rest of the lands.[5] His seat was at Dunderave Castle and Dunderave became the territorial designation of the clan chiefs.[5]

In 1478 Duncan's heir, Alexander, accepted a charter from the Campbell Earls of Argyll for his lands and thus accepted them as feudal superiors.[5] His grandson, also called Alexander, was knighted by James IV of Scotland.[5] He followed the king to the Battle of Flodden and was one of the few survivors of the battle.[5] He died two years later but had married twice and left six sons, the eldest of which succeeded as clan chief.[5] The second son was Ian, father of another Ian or John Dhu who could be the Shane Dhu who is credited with founding the Irish branch of Clan Macnaghten.[5]

Gilbert Macnaghten succeeded as clan chief in 1548 but died without issue and was therefore succeeded by his younger brother, Alexander.[5] Alexander started the rebuilding of Dunderave Castle on Loch Fyne which was completed by his son, Iain, in 1596.[5]

Dunderave Castle at Loch Fyne, historic seat of the chiefs of Clan Macnaghten.

The Macnaghten chiefs raised a force of bowmen to go and assist the French Huguenot rebels in the Siege of La Rochelle in 1627.[5] The chief of Clan Macnaghten was in high favour with Charles I of England and served as a Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber but the expense of the French expedition and the extravagance of living in court forced Macnaghten to mortgage his lands.[5] Alexander died in 1630 leaving Dunderave in the hands of his brother, Macolm Macnaghten of Killearn.[5]

Malcolm's son was a royalist and called out his clan to fight in Glencairn's rising against Oliver Cromwell in 1653.[5] After the Restoration of 1660 Macnaghten was knighted but through the influence of Campbell, Earl of Argyll he was later denounced as a rebel.[5] As a result, the clan lands were nearly entirely lost by debt and the next chief, Iain, inherited little more than an empty title.[5]

Iain joined the forces of John Graham, 1st Viscount Dundee and fought at the Battle of Killiecrankie in 1689.[5] As a result, he was denounced as a Jacobite rebel and his remaining lands were forfeited.[5] His younger son, John Macnaghten, was the last chief of this line.[5] John was forced to make a formal disposition of his remaining lands to Sir James Campbell of Ardkinglas in 1710.[5]

In 1818 Edmund Alexander Macnaghten was recognized as the new clan chief.[5] He was descended from the Irish branch of Macnaghtens who are descended from John Macnaughten Shane Dhu of the 16th century.[5] Edmund Alexander Macnaghten died in 1832 and was succeeded by his brother, Francis, who was a judge in Madras and Calcutta.[5] Francis was a distinguished lawyer and became a Lord of Appeal in 1887.[5] He was succeeded by his son, Sir Edward, whose two sons were both killed in World War I.[5] They were succeeded by their uncle Sir Francis, eighth Baronet.[5]