Donald Angus Cameron of Lochiel

Donald Angus Cameron of Lochiel, CVO, JP, DL (2 August 1946 – 20 October 2023) was the 27th Chief of Clan Cameron. He served as Lord Lieutenant of Inverness from 2002 to 2021.

Donald Angus Cameron of Lochiel
Born(1946-08-02)2 August 1946
Died20 October 2023(2023-10-20) (aged 77)
EducationChrist Church, Oxford
Spouse
Cecil Kerr
(m. 1974)
Children4, including Donald
FatherDonald Cameron
RelativesDonald Cameron (grandfather)
Military career
Years of service1966-1968
RankLieutenant
UnitQueen's Own Cameron Highlanders
Arms of Cameron of Lochiel

Early life

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He was the eldest son of four children born to Col. Sir Donald Hamish Cameron of Lochiel, 26th Chief, KT, and his wife, Margaret Gathorne-Hardy, only daughter of Lt.-Col. the Hon. Nigel Gathorne-Hardy, himself son of the 2nd Earl of Cranbrook.[1]

He was educated at Harrow and went on to read history at Christ Church, Oxford where he graduated as MA.[2]

Career

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Donald Cameron, younger of Lochiel, as he was then known, was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders (TA) in 1966. He resigned that commission in 1968. He then trained as a chartered accountant (FCA, 1971).[1]

In 1983, Prince Naruhito (the present Emperor of Japan) stayed at Achnacarry Castle during an expedition to climb Ben Nevis, hosted by Lochiel.[3][4]

Upon the death of his father in 2004, he assumed the chiefship of Clan Cameron, becoming the 27th Chief "Lochiel". Between 1994 and 1996, he served as president of the Highland Society of London charity.[4] In 1986, he was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Inverness-shire, and later served as the Lord Lieutenant of Inverness-shire from 2002 until 2021.[5] He also held the office of Justice of the peace for Inverness-shire. He was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in the 2018 New Year Honours.[6][7]

Illness and death

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From 1985 until his death Lochiel was disabled, suffering from multiple sclerosis.[8][9]

Lochiel died on 20 October 2023, at the age of 77, at his residence of Achnacarry, and was succeeded by his son, the Rt. Hon. Donald Cameron.[10] Lochiel was described as "the most courageous and loving of men, who...as clan chief and Lord Lieutenant of Inverness, was at the heart of life in the West Highlands".[11][12]

Family

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On 1 June 1974 at St. Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh, he married Lady Cecil Nennella Therese Kerr, OBE, daughter of Peter Kerr, 12th Marquess of Lothian, by his wife Antonella Kerr, Marchioness of Lothian.[13] They had four children:

References

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  1. ^ a b Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage. Burke's Peerage. 2003. p. 653. doi:10.5118/bpbk.2003 (inactive 4 December 2024). ISBN 978-0-9711966-2-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of December 2024 (link)
  2. ^ "The Chiefs of Clan Cameron". www.lochiel.net. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  3. ^ "Heir to land of the rising sun who hunted the Loch Ness monster for fun". The Times. 28 June 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  4. ^ a b Obituaries, Telegraph (29 October 2023). "Donald Cameron of Lochiel, Scottish clan chief and long-serving Highland public figure – obituary". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  5. ^ "End of an era as Lochiel to retire as Lord Lieutenant of Inverness". The Oban Times. 29 July 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  6. ^ "Donald CAMERON OF LOCHIEL | The Royal Victorian Order | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  7. ^ "No. 62150". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 2017. p. N4.
  8. ^ "Clan Cameron Archives". www.lochiel.net. June 2004. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  9. ^ Wilson, Caroline (23 October 2023). "Tributes paid after death of 27th clan Cameron chief". The Herald. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  10. ^ Scott, Fiona (23 October 2023). "Clan Cameron mourns death of its Chief". The Oban Times. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  11. ^ Maclennan, Scott (23 October 2023). "Donald Angus Cameron of Lochiel, the former Lord Lieutenant of Inverness, has died aged 77". The Inverness Courier.
  12. ^ Lejarraga, Alberto (23 October 2023). "Highland MSP Donald Cameron pays tribute to his dad, clan chief and former Lord Lieutenant of Inverness-shire". The Press and Journal. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  13. ^ "Lothian, Marquess of (S, 1701)". www.cracroftspeerage.co.uk. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  14. ^ Spranklen, Annabelle (29 July 2021). "Princess Diana's bridesmaids: Where are they 40 years on?". Tatler. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
Honorary titles
Preceded by  
Lord Lieutenant of Inverness-shire

2002–2021
Succeeded by
James Wotherspoon