History of the Clan MacLean from its first settlement at Duard Castle, in the Isle of Mull, to the present period

280 History of the Clan MacLean.
ter of music to the princesses Mary and Anne ; and afterward to the position
of " Master of Revels for Scotland." He had a son, William, who was a cap-
tain in the wars in Holland, and served under the duke of Marlborough. He
married a daughter of Sir Francis Kinloch, by whom he had two sons, Francis,
who attained the rank of major-general, and James, who died in 1748 in the
East Indies.
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE Macleans of ross.
The third branch of the family of MacLean inhabited that part of Mull
known as Brolass and the Ross of Mull. This district is a bold headland or
point of land projecting into the sea, and forms the extreme southern part of
the island. The surface is very irregular, in one place attaining the height
of twelve hundred and thirty-five feet. The rock, for the most part is granite,
although there is a considerable sprinkling of other varieties, notably basalt.
The MacLeans of Ross were known as Sliochd a' Chlaidheimh laraiim, or the
race of the iron sword, on account of their remarkable bravery. The pro-
genitor was Neil, third son of Lachlan Bronnach of Duard, by his second son,
Neil, who obtained the lands in the Ross district of Mull. Neil of Ross had
two sons, Donald and John, the latter being the progenitor of the family in
the isle of Shuna. Donald's sons were Lachlan, Ewen, and John. The eldest
of these,
Lachlan of Ardchraoshinish, surnaraed Odhar, or Swarthy, was bold, dar-
ing, and brave. He was a constant follower of Sir Lachlan M6r in all his
conflicts with the MacDonalds, and was made governor of Duard castle. He
was principally instrumental in the recovery of the Lochbuy estate out of the
hands of Murdoch of Scallasdale. whom he and Allan MacEachainn fought
and defeated at Grulin. He had a numerous issue, and five of his sons, Mur-
doch, Allan, Lachlan, Ewen, and John, were killed at Inverkeithing ; at least
one hundred and forty of the Ross MacLeans fell there. Of his descend-
ants, Lachlan of Bunessan married Mary, a daughter of Hector MacLean of
Torren, and had a large family : John, Hector, Allan Charles, Sibella, Mary,
Catherine, and Isabella. From Lachlan Odhar also descended Allan, Alexan-
der, and Donald MacLean, three brothers, born in the Ross of Mull. Allan
was a lieutenant in the Ninetieth regiment ; Alexander resided in Glasgow ;