Hector Mor Maclean of Dowart (circa 1600–1626), or Eachann Mór Maclean in Scottish Gaelic, known as Hector the Great, was the 16th Clan Chief of Clan MacLean from 1623 until his death in 1626. The term Mór or Mor translates to great when added to a name in Scottish Gaelic.[1] He resided at Duart Castle on the Isle of Mull. Notably, he was the first Chief of MacLean in four hundred years to not produce an heir, breaking the direct male line from Gillean of the Battle Axe, the clan's founder. He was succeeded by his younger brother, Lachlan Maclean, 1st Baronet.[2]
Hector Mor MacLean, 16th Clan Chief | |
|---|---|
| 16th Clan Chief 12th Laird of Duart | |
| In office 1623–1626 (3 years) | |
| Preceded by | Hector Og Maclean, 15th Clan Chief, father |
| Succeeded by | Sir Lachlan Maclean, 17th Chief and 1st Baronet, brother |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Hector Mor MacLean circa 1600 |
| Died | 1626 |
| Spouse(s) | Margaret MacLeod, eldest daughter of Sir Roderick MacLeod |
| Parent(s) | Sir Hector Og Maclean, 15th Clan Chief Janet Mackenzie of Kintail |
| Relatives | Sir Lachlan Maclean, 1st Baronet 17th Clan Chief, brother Donald MacLean, 1st Laird of Brolas, brother John Hans Makeléer, brother |
| Residence | Duart Castle on the Isle of Mull |
Biography
editHe was the first son of Hector Og Maclean, 15th Clan Chief and Janet MacKenzie of Kintail, the daughter of Colin Mackenzie of Kintail. Hector became Clan Chief at the death of his father in 1623.[3]
Hector Mor was married to Margaret Macleod, eldest daughter of Sir Roderick Macleod of Macleod, 15th Chief, and he died without having any children in 1626. He was succeeded by his younger brother, Lachlan Maclean, 1st Baronet. His widow married Eneas MacDonnell, 7th of Glengarry.[2][4]
Ancestors
edit| Hector Mor Maclean | Father: Hector Og Maclean |
Paternal Grandfather: Sir Lachlan Mor Maclean |
Paternal Great-Grandfather: Eachuinn Og Maclean |
| Paternal Great-grandmother: | |||
| Paternal Grandmother: Margaret Cunningham of Glencairn |
Paternal Great-Grandfather: William Cunningham, 6th Earl of Glencairn | ||
| Paternal Great-Grandmother: | |||
| Mother: Janet MacKenzie of Kintail |
Maternal Grandfather: Colin Mackenzie of Kintail |
Maternal Great-Grandfather: Kenneth Mackenzie of Kintail | |
| Maternal Great-Grandmother: Lady Elizabeth Stewart | |||
| Maternal Grandmother: Barbara Grant |
Maternal Great-grandfather: John Grant of Grant | ||
| Maternal Great-Grandmother: Lady Marjory Stewart |
References
edit- ^ "Mór". MacBain's Dictionary. Retrieved 17 April 2009.
great, Irish mór, Old Irish mór, már, Welsh mawr, Old Welsh, Cornish maur, Breton meur, Gaulish -mârós; Greek @G-mwros, great, famed ( @Ge@'ghesí-mwros) in spear-throw; Gothic -mêrs, famed, mêrian, proclaim, Old High German mâri, famed, -mar in Germanic names German märchen, a tale, Norse m@oerr, famous; Slavonic -meru (Vladimir, etc.); Latin merus, English mere. A shorter form of the stem (*mâro-) appears in mò, greater (mâ), q.v.
- ^ a b 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 & Co. p. 224.
Eachann Mor, Sixteenth Chief of MacLean, or, Big Hector, the sixteenth chief of MacLean, eldest son of the first marriage of Hector Og, succeeded to an extensive and unincumbered estate, and at a period when the family had great influence, owing in part to its matrimonial alliances. The judicious management of the possessions and the policy pursued by his father secured to him a strong protecting influence throughout the country. By nature, Hector Mor was inactive and inclined to a peaceful life, being content with his position and surroundings. His character was not one that was likely to embark in any measure that might prove disadvantageous. For some reason, not now known, he became indebted, as the following, taken from an act of the privy council, March 28, 1622, sets forth: "Sir Rory McKenzie of Cogache his action against Sir John McPougall of Dunnolich, narrating That quhair Hector McClane of Dowart his brother in law being put at as wcill for his Majesteis dewteis as for debts to his creditors quhairby his house wes lykc to be rained; and Sir Rorie out of regaird to him and standing of his house having not only tane on him the burden of the said Hector's debts but the yeirlie payment of his Majesteis dutie extending to tua thousand fyve hundred merkis, for quhilk he had got a rycht to the said Hector's estate : And the said Sir John MacDougall having caused his officiers and servants quho attendit at Ferrcis opposite to the Isle of Mull quhair the Tennents of Mull wer accustumed to land with thair goodis to be sold in the country to mak (provisioun) for payment of his Majesties dutie, exact a certane tole for the saidis goodis, molesting and invading them if they refuised. Sir Johne and his officiers ar ordained to be denunceit (rebels) thairfoir." ... Hector Mor was married to Margaret, eldest daughter of Sir Roderick MacLeod of MacLeod, and died without issue in 1626. His widow married Eneas MacDonnell, 7th of Glengarry. In the person of Hector Mor occurred the first failure in the direct and immediate succession, from father to son, among the chiefs of MacLean. the eldest son of every preceding chief having regularly succeeded to his father's titles and estates for upward of four hundred years, from Gillean, the founder of the clan, to Hector Mor.
- ^ Scotland's Historic Heraldry. Boydell Press. 2006. ISBN 1-84383-261-5.
A particularly interesting Scoto-Swedish family (Chart 20.4), whose members remained in touch with their Highland cousins, is that of MacLean or Macklier. ... [He] married twice: by his first wife, Janet MacKenzie, he had two sons who continued the Duart line, the younger, Sir Lachlan MacLean (d 1649) being created ...
- ^ Report of the annual meeting. Scottish History Society. 1900.
He married First the daughter of Colin Mackenzie of Kintail, predecessor of the present Earl of Seaforth, by whom he had Eachin Mor his eldest Son, who succeeded him, and Lauchlan, who also succeeded him. He married again a daughter of Atcheson of Gosefoord, by whom he had Donald, of whom Brolos is descended and John Duidh. ... To him succeeded Eachin Mor. He married Margaret eldest Daughter of Roderick Laird of Macleod, but had no issue. He was accounted a good man but inactive. He outlived his father but about five or six years, and died leaving his estate to his brother.