Colin MacDonald

Nephew to Clanranald.

https://books.google.com/books?id=_yCSABZBrTQC&pg=PA429&lpg=PA429&d...

Biographical Summary

"II. Colin. He, like his father, was well known in the Highlands as a man of outstanding abilities and active business habits, which he put to good account by adding considerably to his patrimony. In the latter half of the 18th century he purchased the estate of Ulva and other lands in Mull.

He married, first, Margaret, daughter of Donald Campbell of Airds, and had by her —

• Alexander, his successor.
• Donald, a Major in the 92nd or Gordon Highlanders. He also served in the 22nd, 18th, and 100th Regiments. In 1795, letters of service were granted to him to raise a regiment in the Highlands, of which he was appointed Colonel, but he died that year, and before the regiment was completed. He married a daughter of Innes of Sandside, Caithness, without issue.
• Hector, a W.S., and one of the Principal Clerks of Session. He was well known in Edinburgh society and in the Highlands and Islands as agent for several proprietors. He was on intimate terms with Sir Walter Scott, who was a frequent guest at his seat of Ross Priory. He was for many years the representative of the Presbytery of Uist in the General Assembly, On his marriage to the daughter and heiress of Buchanan of Drumikill and Ross Priory, Dumbartonshire, he assumed her name in addition to his own.
• Margaret, who, in 1783, married Captain Angus Macdonald IV. of Milton, with issue.
• Harriet, who, in 1786, married Major Alexander Macdonald of Vallay, with issue.

Boisdale married, secondly, Isabella, daughter of Lieut. Robert Campbell, of the 99th Regiment, afterwards of Glenfalloch, and sister of John, 6th Earl of Breadalbane. By her he had:

• Ranald. He passed Advocate in 1798, and afterwards became Sheriff of Stirlingshire. He succeeded his father in Ulva, and other lauds, in Mull, in 1800. In 1812 the rental of his estate from kelp and other sources amounted to £3600. He was a model landlord, and highly popular among Highlanders. He was a member of several Highland societies. He took great interest in the poetry and lore of the Highlands, and collected Ossianic jjoems and tales in 1801-3, which are preserved in the Advocate's Library. He represented the Presbytery of Mull for many years in the General Assembly, and was Colonel of the Long Island Regiment of Militia, which assembled at Benbecula. His intimacy with Sir Walter Scott, who visited him at Ulva in 1810, is well known. Referring to that visit, Scott says : — " The proprietor of the isle, Macdonald of Statfa, a fine, high-spirited young chieftain, was our pilot and guide through the Hebrides. He is much loved by his people, whose prosperity he studies much. ... In the Isle of Ulva, where he has his house, we were treated with something like feudal splendour. His people received us under arms, and with a discharge of musketry and artillery. His piper was a constant attendant on our parties, and wakened us in the morning with his music." Scott pays a warm tribute to Staffa's character as a landlord in his article on Sir John Carr's Caledonian Sketches, and in the spirited verses written at his house in Ulva during his visit to the "king of all kind fellows." Ranald married, in 1812, Isabella, only child and heiress of Henry Stewart of Allanton, afterwards created a baronet.
• Robert of Inch Kenneth and Gribune, who was a Colonel in the Royal Artillery, and a C.B. He married in 1801 Mary, daughter of Thomas Douglas of Grantham, and had issue
• Colin, an Admiral in the Royal Navy, and a C.B. He married, but left no issue.
• James, M.D., who died, unmarried, in 1806.
• William, who died young.
• Isabella, who died unmarried.
• Jean, who married John Macdonald, XIX. of Clanranald, without issue.
• Mary, who died young.
• Flora, who died young.

Colin Macdonald of Boisdale died July 31, 1800, and was succeeded by his eldest son."

SOURCE: The clan Donald; by the Rev. A. Macdonald, minister of Killearnan, and the Rev. A. Macdonald, minister of Kiltarlity; Vol. III; 1896; page 294