Donald Angus Cameron of Lochiel

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Donald Angus Cameron of Lochiel, CVO, JP, DL (2 August 1946 – 20 October 2023) was the 27th Lochiel (Chief) of Clan Cameron in the Scottish Highlands. He served as Lord Lieutenant of Inverness from 2002 to 2021.

Arms of the Lochiel

Early life[edit]

He was the eldest son of four children born to Sir Donald Hamish Cameron, 26th Lochiel, KT, and his wife Margot Gathorne-Hardy, only daughter of Lt.-Col. Hon. Nigel Gathorne-Hardy, DSO, youngest son of John Gathorne-Hardy, 2nd Earl of Cranbrook.[1]

He was educated at Harrow and went on to read history at Christ Church, Oxford where he graduated as MA.[2]

Career[edit]

Donald Cameron, younger of Lochiel, as he was then known, was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders (TA) in 1966. He resigned that commission in 1968. He then trained as a chartered accountant (FCA, 1971).[1]

In 1983, Prince Naruhito (the present Emperor of Japan) stayed at Achnacarry Castle during an expedition to climb Ben Nevis, hosted by Lochiel.[3][4]

Upon the death of his father in 2004, he assumed the chiefship of Clan Cameron, becoming the 27th Lochiel. Between 1994 and 1996, he served as president of the Highland Society of London charity.[4] In 1986, he was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Inverness-shire, and later served as the Lord Lieutenant of Inverness-shire from 2002 until 2021.[5] He also held the office of Justice of the peace for Inverness-shire. He was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in the 2018 New Year Honours.[6][7]

Illness and death[edit]

From 1985 until his death Lochiel was disabled, suffering from multiple sclerosis.[8][9]

Lochiel died on 20 October 2023, at the age of 77, at his residence of Achnacarry, and was succeeded by his son, the Rt. Hon. Donald Cameron.[10] Lochiel was described as "the most courageous and loving of men, who...as clan chief and Lord Lieutenant of Inverness, was at the heart of life in the West Highlands".[11][12]

Family[edit]

On 1 June 1974 at St. Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh, he married Lady Cecil Nennella Therese Kerr, OBE, daughter of Peter Kerr, 12th Marquess of Lothian, by his wife Antonella Kerr, Marchioness of Lothian.[13] They had four children:

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Burke’s Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage. Burke's Peerage. 2003. p. 653. ISBN 978-0-9711966-2-9.
  2. ^ "The Chiefs of Clan Cameron". www.lochiel.net. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
  3. ^ "Heir to land of the rising sun who hunted the Loch Ness monster for fun". The Times. 2023-06-28. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  4. ^ a b Obituaries, Telegraph (29 October 2023). "Donald Cameron of Lochiel, Scottish clan chief and long-serving Highland public figure – obituary". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  5. ^ "End of an era as Lochiel to retire as Lord Lieutenant of Inverness". The Oban Times. 2021-07-29. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
  6. ^ "Donald CAMERON OF LOCHIEL | The Royal Victorian Order | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  7. ^ "No. 62150". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 2017. p. N4.
  8. ^ "Clan Cameron Archives". www.lochiel.net. June 2004. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  9. ^ Wilson, Caroline (23 October 2023). "Tributes paid after death of 27th clan Cameron chief". The Herald. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  10. ^ Scott, Fiona (23 October 2023). "Clan Cameron mourns death of its Chief". The Oban Times. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  11. ^ Maclennan, Scott (23 October 2023). "Donald Angus Cameron of Lochiel, the former Lord Lieutenant of Inverness, has died aged 77". The Inverness Courier.
  12. ^ Lejarraga, Alberto (23 October 2023). "Highland MSP Donald Cameron pays tribute to his dad, clan chief and former Lord Lieutenant of Inverness-shire". The Press and Journal. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  13. ^ "Lothian, Marquess of (S, 1701)". www.cracroftspeerage.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
  14. ^ Spranklen, Annabelle (29 July 2021). "Princess Diana's bridesmaids: Where are they 40 years on?". Tatler. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
Honorary titles
Preceded by
Lord Lieutenant of Inverness-shire

2002–2021
Succeeded by
James Wotherspoon