Dunoon massacre

Last updated

Dunoon Massacre
Part of the Scottish Clan Wars
Lamont Memorial - geograph.org.uk - 1201824.jpg
The Lamont Memorial in Dunoon commemorates the massacre
Date3 June 1646
Location
Result Campbell Victory
Belligerents
Clan Campbell Clan Lamont
Commanders and leaders
Unknown Sir James Lamont
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown c. 250
Scotland relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Location within Scotland

The Dunoon massacre was a massacre that took place around Dunoon on the Cowal Peninsula, Scotland, on 3 June 1646. Men of the powerful Clan Campbell massacred men, women and children of the Clan Lamont. [1]

By 1646, the Clan Campbell, neighbours of the Clan Lamont, had steadily encroached the Lamont's lands. After the 1645 Battle of Inverlochy near Fort William, the Clan Lamont took the opportunity to lay waste to the Campbell's territory. The following year, the powerful Clan Campbell army invaded the Clan Lamont lands, taking their castles of Toward on Cowal and Asgog on the banks of Loch Asgog on South West Cowal. At Castle Toward the Campbells asked for hospitality, which was given, according to custom, and then slaughtered the Lamonts in their beds finally throwing bodies down the well to poison the water should they have missed anyone. Sir James Lamont surrendered after accepting fair terms for his people, but the Campbells then slaughtered over two hundred of Lamont's men, women and children. Elsewhere, one tree was said to have carried thirty five bodies from its branches, and another thirty six men were buried alive. The two Lamont castles were set alight and razed. Sir James Lamont was thrown into a dungeon for five years. This event became known as the Dunoon massacre. [2] [3]

The massacre is commemorated by a memorial in Dunoon, dedicated in 1906 and known as the Clan Lamont Memorial or the Dunoon Massacre Memorial. [4] [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clan Campbell</span> Highland Scottish clan

Clan Campbell is a Highland Scottish clan, historically one of the largest and most powerful of the Highland clans. The Clan Campbell lands are in Argyll and within their lands lies Ben Cruachan. The chief of the clan became the Earl and later Duke of Argyll.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dunoon</span> Town in Scotland

Dunoon is the main town on the Cowal peninsula in the south of Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is located on the western shore of the upper Firth of Clyde, to the south of the Holy Loch and to the north of Innellan. As well as forming part of the council area of Argyll and Bute, Dunoon also has its own community council. Dunoon was a burgh until 1976.

Argyll Historic county in Scotland

Argyll, sometimes called Argyllshire, is a historic county and registration county of western Scotland.

Cowal Human settlement in Scotland

Cowal is a peninsula in Argyll and Bute, in the west of Scotland, that extends into the Firth of Clyde.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clan Donald</span> Scottish clan

Clan Donald, also known as Clan MacDonald, is a Highland Scottish clan and one of the largest Scottish clans. The Lord Lyon King of Arms, who is the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry in that country, issuing new grants of coats of arms, and serving as the judge of the Court of the Lord Lyon, recognizes under Scottish law the High Chief of Clan Donald. Historically the chiefs of the Clan Donald held the title of Lord of the Isles until 1493 and two of those chiefs also held the title of Earl of Ross until 1476.

Benmore Botanic Garden Botanical garden in Argyll and Bute, Scotland

Benmore Botanic Garden is a large botanical garden situated in Strath Eachaig at the foot of Beinn Mhòr, on the Cowal peninsula, in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The gardens are on the west side of the A815 road from Dunoon, between the Holy Loch and Loch Eck, and include footbridges across the River Eachaig. It is one of the sites of Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

Ardentinny Human settlement in Scotland

Ardentinny is a small village on the western shore of Loch Long, 14 miles (23 km) north of Dunoon on the Cowal peninsula in Argyll and Bute, Scottish Highlands.

Battle of Dunaverty A Battle that took place during the Wars of Three Kingdoms

The Battle of Dunaverty involved a battle and the siege of Dunaverty Castle in Kintyre, Scotland, in 1647. The events involved the Covenanter Army under the command of General David Leslie on one side and 200–300 Highland troops under the command of Archibald Og of Sanda on the other.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clan Colquhoun</span> Scottish clan

Clan Colquhoun is a Scottish clan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clan Lamont</span> Highland Scottish clan

Clan Lamont is a Highland Scottish clan. The clan is said to descend from Ánrothán Ua Néill, an Irish prince of the O'Neill dynasty, and through him Niall Noigíallach, High King of Ireland. Clan Ewen of Otter, Clan MacNeil of Barra, Clan Lachlan, and Clan Sweeney are also descendants of Ánrothán. Traditional genealogy would therefore include Clan Lamont among the descendants of Conn Cétchathach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clan Maclachlan</span> Highland Scottish clan

Clan Maclachlan, also known as Clan Lachlan, Clann Lachainn (Argyll), and Clann Lachlainn, is a Highland Scottish clan that historically centred on the lands of Strathlachlan on Loch Fyne, Argyll on the west coast of Scotland. The clan claims descent from Lachlan Mor, who lived on Loch Fyne in the 13th century, and who has left his name upon the countryside he once controlled: places such as Strathlachlan, Castle Lachlan and Lachlan Bay. Tradition gives Lachlan Mor a descent from an Irish prince of the O'Neill dynasty, Ánrothán Ua Néill, son of Áed, son of Flaithbertach Ua Néill, King of Ailech and Cenél nEógain, died 1036. Clan Maclachlan has been associated with other clans, such as Clan Lamont, Clan Ewen of Otter, Clan MacNeil of Barra, and the MacSweens: as all claim descent from Anrothan O'Neill who left Ireland for Kintyre in the 11th century. From this descent the clan claims a further descent from the legendary Niall Noigíallach, High King of Ireland, who lived from the mid 4th century to the early 5th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castle Toward</span> Country house in Scotland

Castle Toward is a nineteenth-century country house on the southern tip of the Cowal peninsula, overlooking Rothesay Bay in Argyll and Bute on the west-coast of Scotland.

Strachur Human settlement in Scotland

Strachur; and Strathlachlan; are united parishes located on the Cowal peninsula, in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Strachur is a small village on the eastern coast of Loch Fyne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clan Forbes</span> Highland Scottish clan

Clan Forbes is a Highland Scottish clan from Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carter-Campbell of Possil</span>

Carter-Campbell of Possil is a branch of Clan Campbell, a Scottish clan. Historically, they are part of Clan Campbell, which was regarded as one of the largest Scottish clans. The branch of the Campbell clan was historically centred in Lawers. Some of the clan, which originated with the original Campbells, had links to the lands of Argyll.

Campbell of Auchinbreck

The Campbell of Auchinbreck family, was founded by Duncan Campbell of Kilmichael, in Glassary, Argyllshire, Scotland. He was the son of Duncan, first Lord Campbell of the Clan Campbell, by his second wife Margaret, daughter of Sir John Stewart of Blackhall, the illegitimate son of King Robert III of Scotland. The family of the Lords Campbell later became Dukes of Argyll, and remain chiefs of Clan Campbell. Duncan Campbell, as a grandson of King Robert III, received a considerable estate confirmed by royal charter dated 19 June 1452. The family remained at their estate of Auchinbreck, from which they took their title, until 1641. The Campbells of Auchinbreck were commissioned to provide military training and were used by the Earls of Argyll as military support. In 1628 the then head of the family of Campbells in Auchinbreck received a baronetcy, which included a grant of North American land in Nova Scotia.

Battle of Altimarlach Scottish clan battle that took place on 13 July 1680, near Wick, Caithness, Scotland

The Battle of Altimarlach was a Scottish clan battle that took place on 13 July 1680, near Wick, Caithness, Scotland. It was fought in a dispute between Sir John Campbell of Glenorchy and George Sinclair of Keiss over who had the right to the title and lands of the Earl of Caithness. The battle was fought between men of the Clan Campbell and Clan Sinclair. Campbell of Glenorchy won a decisive victory in the battle, but Sinclair of Keiss later turned to the law and was awarded the title of Earl of Caithness.

Old Castle Lachlan

Old Castle Lachlan, also known as Castle Lachlan, is a ruined 15th-century castle on the shore of Loch Fyne, within the Cowal Peninsula, in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It was probably built by Clan Maclachlan on lands first recorded in 1314 as "Castlelachlan". Nothing remains of this fourteenth-century castle. Instead, the enclosure of Old Castle Lachlan appears to date to the early fifteenth century, whilst the internal buildings seem to date to the later part of the century. The castle remained a residence of the clan's chiefs until New Castle Lachlan was built as a replacement in 1790, 0.8 kilometres (0.5 mi) east-north-east.

Dunoon Castle

Dunoon Castle is a ruined castle located at Dunoon on the Cowal peninsula in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The castle sat upon a cone-shaped hill of about 80 feet high, a volcanic plug. Very little remains of the castle's structure today. Castle House, built in 1822, stands a few yards north of the castle ruins.

Battle of Lagganmore Battle in 1646 at Lagganmore in Glen Euchar, west of Loch Scammadale

The Battle of Lagganmore took place in 1646 at Lagganmore in Glen Euchar, west of Loch Scammadale. It was part of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, though in this case the battle, which was fought largely between Highland clansmen, incorporated a long running feud between Clan MacDonald and Clan Campbell.

References

  1. Levene, Mark & Roberts, Penny. The Massacre in History, Berghahn Books, 1999. ISBN   1-57181-934-7.
  2. "Massacre of Clan Lamont and the Memorial at Dunoon". Lamont-young.com. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
  3. "Clan Lamont". Electricscotland.com. 29 July 1913. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
  4. "Dunoon, Tom A Mhoid Road, Clan Lamont Memorial". CANMORE. Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  5. "Clan Lamont Memorial, Dunoon". Commemorations Project. The Scottish Military Research Group. Retrieved 21 February 2017.

Coordinates: 55°56′46″N4°55′33″W / 55.9460°N 4.9257°W / 55.9460; -4.9257