User:Ulybug/William George MacMillan of Murlagan (chieftan)

William George MacMillan of Murlagan (clan chieftan)

William George MacMillan (4 March 1931 – 22 February 2010) was the Chieftain of the MacMillans of Murlagan. The MacMillan of Murlagan line has always been thought of as head of the Lochaber Branch of Clan MacMillan which is broadly centered around Loch Arkaig, Inverness-shire. The Murlagan, chief of this MacMillan band was tacksman to Cameron of Lochiel.

Following the demise of the Macdonald's Lordship of the Isles at the beginning of the sixteenth century, the MacMillan's lordship of Knapdale was given by the crown to the Clan Campbell, whose tenants the MacMillans thereafter became; and it was probably at this time that a son of the last MacMhaolain Mor a Chnap who remained loyal to the Lord of the Isles fled Kilchamaig in South Knap to re-establish a branch of the family in Lochaber, who became the Macmillans of Murlagan. The chief of the Clan Cameron who were the clan that had defeated the Chattan Confederation as the Lairds of Lochaber let Murlagan and the neighbouring farms on Loch Arkaigside to the MacMillans for sword-service, and Clann 'ic 'illemhaoil Abrach ("the Lochaber M'millans") were among Lochiel's most important and loyal followers from the time of the last risings in favour of the forfeited Lords of the Isles in the middle of the sixteenth century.

William, also known as Billy, and Willie, was born March 4 1931 in Maryhill, Glasgow to mother Mary Jane McKelvie and father Andrew Harkness MacMillan of Murlagan, with an older brother Andrew, and a younger brother John.

Billy grew up in Maryhill, living on Campbell Street. When he was 11, he won a scholarship to the Alan Glens school (the school's emphasis on science and engineering led to it becoming, in effect, Glasgow's High School of Science). At the age of 18, he served his national service, joining the RAF as a radio specialist, a time which was very important to him. He also became a keen amateur boxer, the love of which stayed with him, and stood him in good stead in his future.

Upon leaving the RAF, he got a job as a Registrar in Glasgow. He then completed a degree in Zoology at Glasgow University, followed by a MSC in Biophysics at Leeds, where he worked with Watson and Cricks, who were responsible for working out the structure of DNA. William then returned home to Glasgow as an assistant lecturer at the University, and completed a PHD in Electron Microscopy.

He then took a job at the Institute for Animal Health in Compton in Berkshire, where he was involved in the earliest studies of BSE in 1967. Following this William took a place at Aberdeen University as a scientist and lecturer, working in the department of Chemistry, and later the department of Zoology. He was a very popular lecturer, choosing to intersperse his slides with those of topless women to hold onto the attention of his class. He retired from the University in 1990.

William married Gillian Barr in 1967, a fellow scientist.They had three children - Gillian (1969), Ulyssa (1970) and Harriet (1973). The marriage ended in 1990, when William moved to Aberdeen city centre and became a man about town, often at the centre of a spirited evening at one of his favourite watering holes.

He moved from Aberdeen to Edinburgh in 1994, where he lived at the foot of the Royal Mile, where he could see the Scottish Houses of Parliament being built day by day from his window. He became a familiar face in the Old Town Pubs, the New Town pubs, in fact all the pubs He was always one for reciting wild tales and enjoyed wrangles round the pub table, leaving all fortunate or unfortunate enough to cross his path in awe. He was a keen observer of life and the city, always fascinated by history, politics and the human condition.

His health suffered in his last years. He was hospitalized for multi-infarct dementia in 2006, and never returned to his beloved flat at the bottom of the Royal Mile. He went on to live in care homes in Liberton, Morningside and finally to the Parkview care home at Cameron Toll, where he spent his final days. After a rapid deterioration, in the end, he went quickly on 22nd February 2010, after a wee drink, sadly not of Stella Artois, no doubt much to his disappointment.

His youngest daughter Harriet will become the next chieftain.