The Munros of Obsdale were a Scottish family and a cadet branch of the Clan Munro, a Highland Scottish clan. Their base was at Obsdale House, situated just north of the town of Alness in the Scottish Highlands. [1] Some of the members of the Munro of Obsdale family were amongst the most distinguished Scottish military officers of the 17th century. [2]
George Munro, 1st of Obsdale was the fourth son of Robert Mor Munro, 15th Baron of Foulis, chief of the Clan Munro. [2] However, George was the first son born from Robert's second marriage to Kathrine Ross, daughter of the chief of Clan Ross. George received the lands of Obsdale in Alness, as his patrimony. George married a distant relative, Catherine Munro, fifth daughter of Andrew Munro, 5th of Milntown, with issue, among others: [2]
John Munro, 2nd of Obsdale, like his younger and more distinguished brother General Robert Monro, adopted a military profession and served on the Continent under Gustavus Adolphus during the Thirty Years' War. [2] The brothers took ship from Cromarty on 10 October 1626 and on arrival were joined by that King's army. John Munro soon attained the rank of colonel, and in 1628 returned to Scotland to recruit his regiment. [2]
On 14 May 1630 John Munro is one of the jury in the general service at Inverness, of John Gordon, 13th Earl of Sutherland, chief of Clan Sutherland, as heir to William, the first Earl. [2] Amongst other members of the Clan Munro present were: Robert Munro of Assynt, John Munro of Lemlair, Hector Munro of Findon, and Andrew Munro of Novar. At the same time and place the same Earl was served heir by the same jury to John de Moravia, 9th Earl of Sutherland. [2]
John Munro returned to Germany in 1630 accompanied by a considerable number of his clansmen. [2] One of the most notable incidents of John Munro, 2nd of Obsdale's career during this war was a severe engagement at the pass in Oldenburg, where he distinguished himself highly and escaped unhurt, while his brother Robert was wounded in the knee. [7] For the next three years he commanded a Scots regiment under Gustavus Adolphus. John Munro, 2nd of Obsdale was killed at Wetteraw on the Rhine, on 11 March 1633. [2] Historian Sir Robert Gordon said of him that "he was a man imbued with many good points, and by his industry and venture purchased to himself and to his children good means and possessions under the Earl of Sutherland's wings." [2]
John had married Catherine, daughter of John Gordon of Embo with issue:
John Munro, 3rd of Obsdale followed in his father's footsteps of a military career and attained the rank of captain. However, he drowned at sea in 1639 and was succeeded by his younger brother Robert. [2]
Robert Munro, 4th of Obsdale was MP for the county of Inverness in 1649 and in the same year succeeded his cousin Sir Hector Munro, 2nd Baronet (of Foulis, chief of Clan Munro) as the Parliamentary representative for Ross-shire. [2] On the death of his cousin Sir Hector in December 1651 Robert Munro, 4th of Obsdale succeeded as the nearest surviving male descendant of Robert Mor Munro, 15th Baron of Foulis as not only chief of the Clan Munro but also as Baronet of Foulis. After Sir Hector, 11th baronet died in 1935 the chieftaincy passed to his daughter and was separated from the baronetcy. From 1954, the baronets were styled "of Foulis-Obsdale" to distinguish their Arms and Designation from those of Munro of Foulis. [9] See article: Munro baronets for further generations. [2]
The Obsdale title was later used by another member of the same Munro family in the 18th century; the younger brother of Sir Robert Munro, 6th Baronet was Dr Duncan Munro who was styled "of Obsdale". [10] [11] They died together at the Battle of Falkirk Muir in 1746. [11]
Robert Monro, was a famous Scottish General, from the Clan Munro of Ross-shire, Scotland. He held command in the Swedish army under Gustavus Adolphus during Thirty Years' War. He also fought for the Scottish Covenanters during the Bishop's Wars in Scotland and commanded the Scottish Covenanter army during the Irish Confederate Wars. He was the author of a diary recounting his military experiences during the Thirty Years' War, published as Monro, His Expedition With the Worthy Scots Regiment Called Mac-Keys.
Colonel Robert Munro of Foulis, also known as the Black Baron, was traditionally the 18th Baron of Foulis in Scotland. He was a soldier of fortune, who served in Germany under the banners of Gustavus Adolphus, king of Sweden. It is not certain how he got his epithet of the 'Black Baron', but quite possibly it was from the colour of his hair rather than any perceived martial ferocity. Although this Robert Munro is traditionally 18th Baron and 21st overall chief of the Clan Munro, he is only the 11th Munro chief that can be proved by contemporary evidence.
The Munros of Milntown were a family cadet branch of the Highland Clan Munro. As the earliest recorded cadet branch of the Munro chiefs, the Munros of Milntown were the 'senior' cadet branch of the clan, and spawned many cadet branches. They were frequently recorded as 'Monro' as well as Munro. The Munros of Milntown are notable for being involved in events concerning the history of the late Middle Ages in the Scottish Highlands.
Sir Robert Munro, 5th Baronet of Foulis was also 23rd Baron and 26th chief of the Clan Munro. He became blind and was known as the Blind Baron.
Kiltearn is a parish in Ross and Cromarty, Scotland. It is in the Presbytery of Ross.
Sir George Munro of Culcairn was a Scottish soldier of the 18th century from Ross-shire, Scotland. He commanded the 3rd Independent Highland Company from 1714 to 1716, fought at the Battle of Glen Shiel in 1719, led the 6th Company in formation of the "Black Watch" in 1725, the 8th Company of Black Watch when it was regimented in 1739 and again commanded an Independent Highland Company in 1745–46. He was shot in error in 1746.
Sir George Munro, 1st of Newmore (1602–1693) was a 17th-century Scottish soldier and member of parliament from the Clan Munro, Ross-shire, Scotland. He was seated at Newmore Castle. Between 1629 and 1634 Munro held command in the Swedish army during the Thirty Years' War, and from 1642 in the Scottish Covenanter army during the Irish Confederate Wars before changing his allegiance to the Royalist cause of Charles I in 1648 during the Scottish Civil War and Irish Confederate Wars.
The Battle of Achnashellach was a Scottish clan battle said to have taken place in the year 1505, in the Scottish Highlands at Achnashellach. It was fought by the Clan Cameron against the Clan Mackay and the Clan Munro.
Robert Mor Munro, 15th Baron of Foulis, and 18th chief of the Clan Munro was a 16th-century Scottish chief. He was known as Robert Mor on account of his large stature. He was the eldest son of Robert Munro, 14th Baron of Foulis. Although this Robert Munro is traditionally 15th Baron and 18th overall chief of the clan, he is only the 8th Munro chief that can be proved by contemporary evidence.
Contullich Castle was a castle located a few miles north-west of the town of Alness, on the eastern side of the county of Ross-shire, Scotland.
Sir Robert Munro, 3rd Baronet of Foulis, 21st Baron and 24th chief of the Clan Munro was a 17th-century Scottish soldier and politician.
Robert Munro, 14th Baron of Foulis was a Scottish soldier and clan chief of the Highland Clan Munro. He was seated at Foulis Castle. Although he is traditionally the 14th Baron and 17th overall chief of the clan, he is only the 7th Munro chief that can be proved by contemporary evidence.
The chiefs of the Scottish highland Clan Munro, the Munros of Foulis, are according to tradition, descended from a Donald Munro of Foulis who died in 1039. However their descent can only be proved by contemporary evidence back to a Robert de Munro who died in 1369.
George Munro of Foulis is traditionally the 10th Baron and 13th successive chief of the Clan Munro. However, he is only the third successive chief of the clan who can be proved by contemporary evidence. He was the eldest son of Hugh Munro, 9th Baron of Foulis and was seated at Foulis Castle.
Sir Hector Munro, 2nd Baronet of Foulis was a Scottish noble and clan chief of the highland Clan Munro. He is also by tradition the 20th Baron and 23rd overall chief of the clan. However, he is actually the 13th chief of the Clan Munro who can be proved by contemporary evidence.
Clan Munro is a Highland Scottish clan. Historically the clan was based in Easter Ross in the Scottish Highlands. Traditional origins of the clan give its founder as Donald Munro who came from the north of Ireland and settled in Scotland in the eleventh century, though its true founder may have lived much later. It is also a strong tradition that the Munro chiefs supported Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence. The first proven clan chief on record however is Robert de Munro who died in 1369; his father is mentioned but not named in a number of charters. The clan chiefs originally held land principally at Findon on the Black Isle but exchanged it in 1350 for Estirfowlys. Robert's son Hugh who died in 1425 was the first of the family to be styled "of Foulis", despite which clan genealogies describe him as 9th baron.
The Skirmish of Alness was a conflict that took place in October 1715 in Alness, in the county of Ross in the Scottish Highlands. It was part of the Jacobite rising of 1715 and pitted Highlanders loyal to the British-Hanoverian Government of George I of Great Britain against Highlanders loyal to the Jacobite House of Stuart.
Hector Munro, 17th Baron of Foulis, also known as the master of Foulis, was a Scottish chief of the Highland, Scottish clan, Clan Munro. He is the 10th chief of Clan Munro who can be proved by contemporary evidence. He was seated at Foulis Castle.
The Munros of Culrain were a minor noble Scottish family and a cadet branch of the ancient Clan Munro, a Scottish clan of the Scottish Highlands. They were seated at Culrain which is in the south of the county of Sutherland, but to the north of the main Munro clan lands in Kiltearn, Easter Ross.
The Munros of Kiltearn were a minor noble Scottish family and a branch of the ancient Clan Munro, a Scottish clan of the Scottish Highlands.They were seated at Kiltearn House which was a manor house that shared the same name of the parish it was situated in, Kiltearn. In Scottish Gaelic the Munros of Kiltearn are known as the Sliochd-Alastair-Mhic-Uistean. The most famous member of the Munro of Kiltearn family was Donald Monro, High Dean of the Isles.
Source states John Munro of Obsdale but year of death is given as 1589 which was when George Munro of Obsdale died as confirmed by Mackenzie (1898). p. 169