ROBERT MACGREGOR (ROB ROY)
He was born in February 1671
the third son of Lt. Colonel Donald Glas MacGregor and Margaret Campbell - cousin of the Duke of Argyll at Inverlochaig at the head of Loch Doine (Balquidder). His name is derived from the Gaelic Raibert Ruadh, or Red Robert, because he had red hair, which darkened as he grew older. He was also noted for his long arms. His life as an outlaw started when he was unable to repay money that he had borrowed form the Duke of Montrose to fund his growing cattle trade. The Duke seized his lands and property and Rob Roy fled with his debt unpaid. From this time onwards Rob Roy and the followers he had gathered, at one time as many as 500 men, profited from raiding lands of the Duke and those of his neighbours. Though he relieved many of their property it is said that he was never brutal or cruel with his victims and never stole from the common man, there was after all no profit from robbing a poor man. He led his men in successful raids around Loch Lomond and Callander. His success allowed him to send each year a cow and a fat sheep to the minister of Balquidder who in turn made no enquiries about the source of his wealth. It was during this time that the Duke of Montrose captured Rob Roy several times, but always daringly escaped. He married Mary Helen McGregor of Comar in Glenarklet in January 1693, and there is recorded proof of them having four sons. They were James, Ranaid, Robert, and Duncan, the latter being a cousin whom they adopted. When the name MacGregor was outlawed in 1694 he used his mother’s name of Campbell. In 1715, Rob led his clan to battle in support of the Jacobites. He was charged with treason, but again escaped from prison. In 1725, following his decision to turn himself in to General Wade, he received a pardon from the King and after 13 years was no longer an outlaw. Rob Roy died in his home on 28th December 1734 and was buried in a Balquidder kirkyard. His life has been told in history books, romanticized in novels by Sir Walter Scott and Nigel Tranter, and portrayed in film by Liam Neeson and Jessica Lange.