User:KirkBuchanan

A Brief History of The Buchanan Family

The history of the Buchanan Family is not the stereotypical Scottish clan story. The long list of bloody, often pointless, feuds with other clans is largely absent. The honor and merit of this clan does not arise from the sharpness of its swords (although these were wielded to great effect in the early days) but from intellectual, charitable, and spiritual distinction.

Weave through the traditional mythical origins of the clan and one finds a charter of 1225 of the island of Clairinch in the southeast corner of Loch Lomond. This was granted by the Earl of Lennox to Anselan, son of Macbeth McCausland (sometimes recorded as McCaslan; McCauland; or Cauland), for the payment of a pound of wax every Christmas. Anselan was already a knight – Sir Anselan of Buchanan, and held lands on the loch shore and the name means ‘House of the Canon.’ This indicates that he probably descends from one of the leading families of the ancient Celtic Church.

‘Clairinch!’ became the battle cry of the clan; rendered in the Gaelic, ‘Clàr-Innis!’

During the Scottish Wars of Independence, Maurice, the chief, was one of the very few members of the Scots nobility who did not sign the Ragman Roll swearing fealty to Edward I of England. He was a stout supporter of Robert Bruce and gave the king sanctuary after the Battle of Dalrigh in 1305.

In the clan’s heartland on the eastern shores of Loch Lomond, the parish was known as Buchanan, and most land holders were cadet families of the chief. They included the Buchanans of Blairlusk, ancestors of American President James Buchanan. Sir Walter Scott recounts the famous story of John Buchanan of Arnprior who earned the nickname ‘King of Kippen.’

"When James the Fifth travelled in disguise, he used a name which was known only to some of his principle nobility and attendants. He was called the Goodman (the tenant, that is) of Ballengeich. Ballengeich is a steep pass which leads down behind the castle of Stirling.

"Once upon a time when the court was feasting in Stirling, the king sent for more venison from the neighbouring hills. The deer was killed and put on horses’ backs to be transported to Stirling. Unluckily they had to pass the castle gates of Arnprior, belonging to a chief of the Buchanans, who chanced to have a considerable number of guests with him.  ‘It was late, and the company were rather short of victuals, though they had more than enough liquor. The chief, seeing so much fat venison passing his very door, seized on it, and to the expostulations of the keepers, who told him it belonged to King James, he answered insolently, that if James was king of Scotland, he (Buchanan) was king in Kippen; being the name of the district in which Arnprior lay.

"On hearing what had happened, the king got on horseback, and rode instantly from Stirling to Buchanan’s house, where he found a strong fierce-looking Highlander, with an axe on his shoulder, standing sentinel at the door. This grim warder refused the king admittance, saying that the laird of Arnprior was at dinner, and would not be disturbed. “Yet go up to the company, my good friend” said the king, “and tell him that the Goodman of Ballengeich is come to feast with the King of Kippen.” ‘The porter went grumbling into the house, and told his master that there was a fellow with a red beard at the gate, who called himself the Goodman of Ballengeich and had come to dine with the King of Kippen. As soon as Buchanan heard those words, he knew that the king was come in person, and hastened down to kneel at James’ feet, and to ask forgiveness for his insolent behaviour. But the king, who only meant to give him a fright, forgave him freely, and, going into the castle, feasted on his own venison which Buchanan had intercepted. Buchanan of Arnprior was ever afterwards called the King of Kippen." John Buchanan was killed at the Battle of Pinkie in 1547.

The 20th Chief of Buchanan gave £12,000 as scholarships to the universities of Edinburgh and St Andrews. The 21st Chief, Sir George Buchanan, fought at the battles of Dunbar and Inverkeithing for the Royalists, and the poor management of the 22nd Chief, John, led to the sale of the family estates on his death in 1682 to the 3rd Marquis of Montrose.

The original Buchanan Castle burned in 1852. The 4th Duke of Montrose of the Graham family built a new house, Buchanan Castle, on the site in 1854. The castle was sold in 1925 and used as a hospital during World War II. After the war, the roof was removed in order to avoid paying taxes. It still stands today, although it is in disrepair and listed by the National Trust of Scotland for restoration. But the story of the clan is far from over.

Perhaps one of its most celebrated sons was George Buchanan, a younger son of Thomas Buchanan of Mid Leowen in the heart of clan country. He was one of the greatest scholars of the European Renaissance, a university professor in France and Portugal, a historian, author, the most distinguished Latinist of his day and became a champion of the Reformation. In his later years he became the tutor to both Queen Mary and her son James VI and was responsible for the king’s education. James VI of Scotland went on to become James I of England and was responsible for authorizing the first English translation of the Bible.

One notable achievement of the Clan Buchanan that cannot be overlooked is its Society. George, son of the Laird of Gartocharn, near Drymen, fought as a Covenanter in the Battle of Bothwell Bridge in 1679 before making his fortune in Glasgow. His four sons also prospered and, in 1725, they founded the Buchanan Society. This was two decades before the Rising of 1745, and preceded the formation of any other clan society by nearly a century. Its object then, as now, was ‘to provide support for the poor of the Clan and to assist their young in schooling, apprenticeship and, for those ‘of promising genius,’ at University or otherwise.

Pensions, scholarships and bursaries are still awarded. The Society is also now the owner of the island of Clairinch in Loch Lomond.

Anselan McCausland of Buchanan had several sons and daughters. As such, there are hundreds upon hundreds of separate family lines and branches from each of those children.

The Sons of Anselan Buchanan

Anselan McCausland of Buchanan, 1205 Gilbert Buchanan 1231-1274 Maurice Buchanan 1274 Maurice Buchanan 1298 Walter Buchanan 1338 John Buchanan 1376 Walter Buchanan 1425-1473 John Buchanan 1473 Thomas Buchanan 1500 Thomas C Buchanan 1525-1590 John of Gartocharn Buchanan 1545-1619 George Buchanan 1586 John Buchanan 1615-1662 George Buchanan 1648-1685 Thomas Buchanan 1680-1748 William A Buchanan 1704-1730 William Buchanan 1730-1802 William Marion Buchanan 1795-1870 Thomas Newton Buchanan 1837-1903 Daniel Lee Buchanan 1870 Charles Carol Buchanan 1902-1967 Daniel Lee Buchanan 1940- Daniel Kirkland Buchanan 1966- Daniel Kaden Buchanan 1992- & David Kauland Buchanan 1992-