WOMAN AS CLAN CHIEF

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 June 1936, Page 3

WOMAN AS CLAN CHIEF

FLORA OF MACLEOD. The council of the Clan MacLeod Society have adopted a report by a committee which expresses the opinion that Flora, Mrs. MacLeod of MacLeod, is the chief of the Clan Society in succession to her fatlrsr, the late Sir Reginald MacLeod of MacLeod, the twentyfourth chief of the MacLeods of Dunvegan (in corrected order the twentyseventh chief). In a reference to the claim of the male representative in Australia of the MacLeods of Talisker to be male representative of the MacLeods of Dunvegan, the committee say that matter does not appear to arise in connection with the office of chief of the Clan Society. There is no sex disqualification in the society’s constitution. The committee to which the matter was referred for consideration consisted of Sir John MacLeod, one of the vice-presidents; Mr. Fred T. MacLeod, and Major R. C. MacLeod, honorary secretary.

Under the constitution of the society, which was founded in ISSH and reconstituted in 1906, it is prescribed that the chief of the society shall be MacLeod of MacLeod.

DESCRIPTION IN GRANT OF ARMS

The Clan MacLeod consists of two main branches, MacLeods of Dunvegan and MacLeods of Lewis. Th? chiefs of tho MacLeods of Dunvegan are variously described in tho Pi ivy Council records, Acts of Scots Parliament, and other documents as “of Dunvegan.” “of Harris,” “of Glenelg,” “Laird of Dunvegan,” “Laird of MacLeod,” and “of that ilk.” The chief of the MacLeods of Dunvegan is commonly known, according to Highland custom and usage. as | “MacLeod of MacLeod” or “MacLeod.” | In the official grant of arms by the 1 Lord Lyon in 1753 the phrase “of that ilk" becomes “of MacLeod” in the arms, as known in 1784, and as matriculated in 1928. The phrase “of that ilk” means “of the same,” and refers to ownership of lands of the same name as the name of the owner. The phrase “of that ilk" in the mat-, riculated arms of 1753 of the then; chief of the MacLeods of Dunvegan re-i lates to tire ownership of the lands and' castle of Dunvegan, in the personage, of the party entitled to the famiyl arms. i Flora, Mrs. MacLeod of MacLeod, is I the heiress and successor of Sir Regi-| nald MacLeod of MacLeod, the 24th I chief of hte MacLeods of Dunvegan I (in corrected order the 27th chief), ini the lands of MacLeod, embracing the lands and castle of Dunvegan, and the; owner thereof, and she is in right oL the family arms, being the arms as 1 known in 1784, and matriculated ini 1928, I

These arms, but. without the crest, which is inapplicable in the case of a female successor, have been matriculated in her person in the Crown of. the Lord Lvon as the arms of “Flora! Mistress MacLeod of MacLeod, in the! Isle of Skye.” |