James Macpherson | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1675 |
| Died | 16 November 1700(1700-11-16) (aged 24–25) |
| Occupation | Robber |
| Criminal charge | Robbery Bearing arms in a market Being aGypsy |
| Penalty | Death by hanging |
James Macpherson (c. 1675–1700) was a Scottish outlaw, famed for his lament before execution. He grew up a talented swordsman and fiddle player, then became leader of a gang of robbers. He was arrested inKeith and died inBanff. The lament was rewritten byRobert Burns asMcPherson's Farewell.
James Macpherson was bornc. 1675 the illegitimate son of aClan Macphersonlaird fromInvereshie,Inverness-shire and a woman who was eitherRomani or a Traveller.[1][2] He was brought up at Invereshie House then after his father died prematurely, he lived with his itinerant mother.[2]
MacPherson grew up a talented swordsman and fiddle player, who formed a gang which robbed the rich lairds of theProvince of Moray and gave to the poor, making him aRobin Hood figure.[3][2] TheParliament of Scotland had made it illegal to be or suspected of being Romani with theGypsies Act 1609, so Macpherson lived as a criminal as soon as he joined his mother and furthermore he had angered a local land-owner,William Duff of Braco, who wanted to stop the robberies.[3] Macpherson was captured in Aberdeen then managed to escape from prison with the help of his family.[4]
After an aggressive confrontation in September 1700 with Duff's men at the St Rufus Fair in Keith, Macpherson fled but fell over a gravestone and was detained. He was taken to Banff for trial under the 1609 act with three other outlaws; he was found guilty alongside his comrade James Gordon and both were sentenced todeath by hanging.[4][5]
Whilst ondeath row, Macpherson composed hisRant which he performed when he was taken to thegallows at themercat cross on 16 November 1700. This lament inspiredRobert Burns to write the famous poemMcPherson’s Farewell.[1] Macpherson then broke his fiddle and was hanged.[3] Apopular story relates that Macpherson's mother was able to obtain a reprieve for him inTurriff, but Duff set the time on the Banff town clock forward by 15 minutes so that the execution had already taken place by the time the messenger arrived by horse.[6][2]
Macpherson's fame grew after J. G. Phillips released a sympathetic biography in 1894 entitled 'James MacPherson: The Highland freebooter.[1] His smashed fiddle is on display at the museum of Clan Macpherson inNewtonmore, nearKingussie. Hisclaymore andtarge were held atDuff House in Banff, now his sword is also in Newtonmore.[3][1] In Banff he is remembered by the name of the Broken Fiddle cafe.[6]
