Capt Alexander M'Neill, of Colonsay

Born 17 Jan 1791. Alexander, Laird Colonsay, Oransay, Ardlussa and Gigha, McNeill married Anne Elizabeth Carstairs. He was the son of John, Laird of Colonsay, Oransay and Ardlussa, McNeill and Hester Howard McNeill. He perished at sea, with his wife and 2 daughters, off the coast of Port Patrick in the wreck of The Orion. The ORION left Liverpool for Glasgow on the 18 June 1850, with a crew of 40 and 170 passengers. At 1.15am she struck rocks off the lighthouse at the entrance to Portpatrick Harbour. The ship was at full speed and the impact tore her bottom out. She sank in a few minutes. 60 drowned.

Oransay Memorial, McNeill Mortuary:
In memory of Alexander McNeill, Laird of Colonsay, Oransay, Ardlussa and Gigha, Aged 59;
Anne Elizabeth Carstairs, his wife, 4th daughter and co-heiress of John Carstairs Esq, of Woodhurst and Warboys, Hunts, aged 47;
and 2 of their daughters;
Cecil Anne, aged 17;
and Hester Mary, aged 6;
who all perished in the wreck of the "Orion" at Port Patrick, on passage from Liverpool to Glasgow, 18th June 1850 and are buried on the Island of Gigha