| Clan Farquharson | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Clann Fhearchair[1] | |||
 Crest: On a chapeau Gules furred Ermine, a demi-lion Gules holding in his dexter paw a sword Proper | |||
| Motto | Fide et Fortitudine ("By Faith and Fortitude") | ||
| Profile | |||
| Plant badge | Scots fir | ||
| Chief | |||
 | |||
| Philip Farquharson of Invercauld, 17thBaron of Invercauld and Omnalprie | |||
| Chief of the Name and Arms of Farquharson (Mac Mhic Fhionnlaigh[1]) | |||
| Seat | Invercauld Castle (historically) | ||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
Clan Farquharson (/ˈfɑːrkərsən/ ⓘ) (Scottish Gaelic:Clann Fhearchair[ˈkʰl̪ˠãũn̪ˠˈfɛɾɛxɪɾʲ]) is aHighlandScottish clan based atInvercauld andBraemar,Aberdeenshire,[3] and is a member of theChattan Confederation.[4][5]
.jpg)
The chiefs of the Clan Farquharson trace their ancestry back to Farquhar, fourth son of Alexander "Ciar" of Rothiemurchus.[4] Alexander Shaw was the fifth chief of theClan Shaw.[5] His descendants took the name Farquharson.[5] Another of Alexander's sons was Donald, who married Isobel Stewart, the heiress ofInvercauld.[4] Donald's son was Finla Mor who was the real progenitor of the clan.[4]MacFionlaigh Mòr is theScottish Gaelic patronymic.[4] Finla Mor was the royal banner bearer at theBattle of Pinkie Cleugh in 1547 where he was killed.[4] However he produced nine sons over two marriages from which the important cadet branches of the clan were sprung and the clan grew in stature.[4]
Up to this point Clan Farquaharson was not part of the Clan Chattan Confederation who occasionally raided their lands. There is story of a Chattan spy, Lamont of Inverey who was caught by the Farquaharsons in 1589 and hanged on a charge of stealing livestock. The tree, a Scots fir was subsequently called the Farquharsons Hanging Tree and became the plant symbol of the clan.[6]
In 1595 the Clan Farquharson joined theChattan Confederation and a bond ofmanrent acknowledged the chief ofClan Mackintosh, who was also chief of Clan Chattan as their "natyff cheiff".[4]
Towards the end of the 16th century theClan Erskine chiefs set out to claim theEarldom of Mar but they were opposed by the increasing power of the Farquharsons.[4] In 1628Braemar Castle was built byJohn Erskine (Earl of Mar) as a bulwark against them, but in 1716 it fell into the hands of the Clan Farquharson.[4] The clan became known as thefighting Farquharsons due to their fierce reputation and they became strong supporters of the Stuarts.[4]
During theScottish Civil War Donald Farquharson of Monaltrie fought forJames Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose in 1644,[4] and then for Charles II at theBattle of Worcester in 1651.[7] John Farquharson of Inverey was known as theBlack Colonel and burned Braemar Castle.[4] John supportedJames VII of Scotland and followedJohn Graham, 1st Viscount Dundee in 1689.[4] After Dundee's death in 1689 the Clan Farquharson supported his successor,Thomas Buchan of theClan Buchan.[8]
In the late 17th century theEarl of Airlie came into dispute with theClan MacThomas over the lands of Canlochcan.[9] Airlie's legal action was successful but the chief of Clan MacThomas refused to recognize this and continued to pasture his cattle on the disputed land.[9] In response Airlie used his legal right to lease the land to men of the Clan Farquharson which led to a feud.[9] On 28 January 1673 Farquharson of Broughdearg was killed along with two sons of the chief of Clan MacThomas.[9] The lawsuits that followed crippled the MacThomas chief.[9]
On the south side of theBlack Isle, Ross-shire, are McFarquhar's Cave and McFarquhar's Bed which are apparently named after a 17th-century smuggler.[10][11][12]
During theJacobite rising of 1715 another John Farquharson of Invercauld was a colonel in theChattan Confederation regiment which supportedJames Francis Edward Stuart.[4] Farquharson was taken prisoner at theBattle of Preston (1715).[4] He was held atMarshalsea Prison and was condemned to be executed at theTower of London, however he and two other highland officers were reprieved on the morning of execution.[4] He was paroled and not allowed to return toScotland for over twenty years.[4]General Wade's report on the Highlands in 1724, estimated the combined clan strength of the Farquharsons and Mackintoshes at 800 men.[13]
In 1745 the strength of the Clan was estimated as 500 byDuncan Forbes, Lord Culloden.[5] On 23 December 1745, 300 men of the Clan Farquharson had fought as Jacobites in their victory at theBattle of Inverurie (1745).[14] During theJacobite rising of 1745, the cousin of John Farquharson wasLady Anne Farquharson-MacKintosh who was wife of Angus Mackintosh, chief of Clan Mackintosh.[4] Angus Mackintosh was in fact a serving officer in theBlack Watch regiment of the British Army and he was captured at theBattle of Prestonpans by Jacobite forces.[4] Mackintosh was sent home toMoy having been given parole not to take arms against the Jacobites and when he arrived he was greeted by his wife, Anne Farquharson, who said "Your servant, captain" to which he replied "Your servant, colonel".[4] She was ever after known as Colonel Anne.[4] Anne later savedCharles Edward Stuart from capture in what is known as theRout of Moy.[4] Anne was imprisoned for six weeks after theBattle of Culloden.[4] Francis Farquharson of Monaltrie led the Farquharsons at the Battle of Culloden and although he survived he was imprisoned and was condemned to death, but was lucky enough to have his execution reduced to exile.[7]
The McFarquhars ofRedcastle on the Black Isle were Jacobites.[15]
Alwyne Arthur Compton Farquharson, Chief of the Name and Arms of Farquharson, 16th Baron of Invercauld and Omnalprie,MC,JP; as recognised byLord Lyon King of Arms died on 6 October 2021.[16] Born 1 May 1919 as Alwyne Arthur Compton, son of Major Edward Robert Francis Compton, of Newby Hall, Ripon, Yorkshire, and of Torloisk, Aros, Isle of Mull, Scotland (grandson ofWilliam Compton, 4th Marquess of Northampton) and Sylvia Farquharson of Invercauld,[17] he was confirmed MacFionnlaidh by Lyon Court in 1949, having taken the name of Farquharson. He served with distinction as a captain in the Royal Scots Greys during World War Two. Captain Farquharson resided at Valley Farm, Norfolk with his second wife, Madame Patricia Farquharson.[18] He is succeeded by his great-nephew Philip Farquharson of Invercauld, 17th Baron of Invercauld and Omnalprie, Chief of the Name and Arms of Farquharson.
Castles held by the Farquhars and Farquharsons have included:
| Tartan image | Notes |
|---|---|
_(Stewart_-_%2527The_Setts%2527).png) | Clanhiunla, or Farquharsonnestartan, as published in 1842 inVestiarium Scoticum. |
 | Farquharson Modern |
| [19] | Farquharson Dress |
There are several tartans attributed to the nameFarquharson.
