Sir Alexander Matheson, 1st Baronet of Lochalsh

This portrait of Sir Alexander Matheson, Baronet of Lochash, hangs in Inverness Town House, in the Council Chamber. It was painted by W.N.Owlife in 1879 and presented to Inverness in 1926.

Alexander Matheson was born at Attadale in 1805. Following his education at Edinburgh University he made his fortune trading in China. He returned in 1839. He used his wealth to buy and improve Highland estates. In 1840 he purchased the estate of Ardintoul and Letterfearn. He went on to acquire, among others, the estates of Inverinate, Lochalsh, Ardross and Attadale (which his father had been forced to sell).

Matheson eventually owned almost quarter of a million acres of land in Ross-shire and Inverness-shire including all the land in Inverness on the west side of the River Ness between the river and the Caledonian Canal.

Matheson was MP for the Inverness District of Burghs from 1847 to 1868. He was instrumental in getting the Dingwall and Skye Railway constructed and was for years Chairman of the Highland Railway.

In 1882, in acknowledgement of his public services, he was made a Baronet.

Sir Alexander Matheson, Baronet of Lochalsh died on 26 July 1886.

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