History of the Chiefs of Clan   MacDougall

 Dougall: Eponymous founder of Clan MacDougall.  Received in 1164, upon the death of his father, King Somerled, the mainland kingdom of Lorn from Morvern to Knapdale along with the islands of Jura, Coll, Mull, Tiree, Kerrera, Lismore, and the surrounding smaller isles. Died in 1207.

 Duncan: Second chief of the clan and son of Dougall.   Called King Duncan in the sagas, he was Ruler of Argyll (Ergadia) and regulus of the isles. Founded Ardchattan Priory. His major stronghold seems to have been Dunstaffnage but he probably had fortified Dunollie's promontory as well. Died in 1248. 

Ewen: Third chief of the clan and son of Duncan.             Ewan or John of Argyll (de Ergadia), Lord of Lorn. For a time he was King of the Isles under the High King of Norway. There is evidence that Ewen had assumed the eponymic title of MacDhughaill (MacDougall). Mediated between Alexander, King of Scots, and Hakon , King of Norway. Died in 1266. 

Sir Alexander: Fourth chief of the clan and son of Ewen, also called Alasdair de Ergadisa, Lord of Lorn.                Over-lord of a large part of the western Highlands under King Baliol. Died in 1310. Married the third daughter of John Comyn and Marian, daughter of Alan of Falloway. 

Sir John of Lorn: (lain Bacach) Fifth chief of the clan and son of Sir Alexander.                                                              Defeated Robert Bruce at Dalrigh and was himself defeated in the Battle of Brander. Became Admiral of the Western Seas under King Edward. Died a prisoner of Bruce in either 1317 or 1318. 

Duncan of Dunollie: Sixth chief of the clan and son of Ewen, the third chief of the clan.                                                     A boyhood friend of William Wallace. He was granted Dunollie by Bruce (perhaps at the parliament held at Ardchattan Priory) on the defeat of Chief Alexander and John of Lorn. 

Ewen: (John) Lord of Lorn: Seventh chief of the clan, and son of Sir John (Iain Bacach) of Lorn.                                 (May have been the son of Sir John's son Alan.) Regained the lordship of Lorn in 1344. Married Joan who was the daughter of Sir Thomas Isaac and Princess Matilda, the daughter of King Robert Bruce. Died around 1375. He had two daughters, Janet and Isabella, who both married Stewarts of Innermeath. Through Janet the Lordship of Lorn passed to the Stewarts. 

lain of Dunollie: Eighth chief of the clan and the son of Allan who was the son of Duncan, sixth chief.                      Granted large holdings in Lorn by John Stewart, Lord of Lorn including Dunollie. Married Christina the daughter of Sir Dougald Campell of Craignish. Christina later married the second chief of the MacNaughtens and still later Ivor Campbell, Iain died around 1400. His second son Allan of Raera (Rarray) and Ardmaddy. 

Dougall of Dunollie: Ninth chief of the clan and the son of Dunollie and the son of Iain of Dunollie.                           Married a daughter of MacDonnell of Isla, was killed in a fight with the Campbells at Askinish. 

Alan of Dunollie: Tenth chief of the clan and son of Dougall of Dunollie.                                                               Married a daughter of Robert Stewart of Lorn. 

Sir John of Dunollie: Eleventh chief of the clan and son of Alan of Dunollie.                                                                  Married Gyllis (egidia) who was the daughter of Sir Collin Campbell of Glenorchy. Died in 1480. 

Alexander of Dunollie: Twelfth chief of the clan and son of Sir John of Dunollie.                                                      Alexander's eldest son was killed in 1512. Alexander died around 1493. 

John of Dunollie: Thirteenth chief of the clan and son Of Alexander of Dunollie.                                                       Mentioned in charter dated in 1518 and 1535. Died around 1535.

 John of Dunollie: Fourteenth chief of the clan and son of John (13th) of Dunollie.                                                               John quarreled with the Dukes of Argyll and was imprisoned by the Campbells in Dollar Castle. Died in 1563. His son Duncan may have built Gylen Castle. 

Dougall of Dunollie: Fifteenth chief of the clan and the son of John (14) of Dunollie. Known as something as a tyrant. Mentioned in charters dates 1563 and 1567. 

Duncan of Dunollie: Sixteenth chief of the clan and the son of Dougall of Dunollie.                                                       Obtained a charter from King JamesVI in 1596. May have been the builder of Gylen Castle. Married (1st) Margret the sister of Sir Lauchlan MacLean of Dowart. His second son was Allan of Torsay. Married (2nd) Sibylla the daughter of Drummond of Cochyle. 

Sir John of Dunollie: Seventeenth chief of the clan and the son of Duncan (16th) of Dunollie.                                      Married in 1610 Katherine the daughter of Hector MacLean of Duart. In 1622 was involved in complaints and counter complaints dealing with the cattle raids involving his father-in-law. Died around 1634. 

Alexander of Dunollie: Eighteenth chief of the clan and the son of Sir John (17th) of Dunollie. Chief during a period of relative peace. Married Katherine who was the daughter of Sir Duncan Campbell of Glenorchy. Had three sons who became Chiefs of the Clan. 

Ian of Dunollie: (Iain) Nineteenth chief of the clan and the son of Alexander of Dunollie.                                                 Ian became chief at a young age sometime before 1644. He was Chief during the troubled times of the massacre at Dunaverty (some accounts say that he was the young MacDougall who alone was spared at Dunaverty, but this is probably a case of mistaken identity), the burning of Gylen, and the taking of Dunollie by the Convenanter army. Married a daughter of Sir Roderick Mor MacLeod but had no children. 

Duncan of Dunollie: Twentieth chief of the clan and the second son of Alexander(18th)of Dunollie.                               Had a daughter who married in 1707 Ian MacLean of Lochbuie.

 Allen of Dunollie: Twenty-first chief of the clan and the third son of Alexander (18th) of Dunollie.                          Received from JamesVII a charter to a greater part of Lorn in 1686. Married Mary the daughter of Ian MacLachlan of Kilbride. Died in 1695.

 John of Dunollie: (lain Ciar ) Twenty-second Chief of the clan and son of Allen (21) of Dunollie.                             Joined the Rising of 1715 and led two hundred kinsmen at Sheriffmuir. After the failure of this rising, lain Ciar was in exile for eleven years. He was known for his swordmanship and bravery, and his name is associated with many bold tales. He married Mary the daughter of William MacDonald of Sleat. Mary bravely defended Dunollie during her husband's exile. His second son, Allan, went to the East Indies. His third son joined the Rising of 1745. 

Alexander of Dunollie: Twenty-third chief of the clan and the son of John (22nd) of Dunollie.                                 Known as Alastair Dubh, Alexander did not join the Rising of 1745. He built the manor house below the castle and raised a large family. Married Mary the daughter of Patrick Campbell of Barcaldine in 1737. His first son, John, married the daughter of Lord Ruthven and died in 1775 at Bombay without issue. Alexander died in 1801. 

Patrick of Donollie: Twenty-fourth chief of the clan and the second son of Alexander (23) of Dunollie.                      Patrick was nearly sixty when he became Chief. He had a reputation of being frugal which is small considering the size of the family he raised. Married Louisa Maxwell who was the daughter of Campbells of Achalader. He was born in 1742 and died in 1825. His first son Captain Alexander was killed at Ciudad Rodrigo in 1810 and died without issue. 

Sir John of Dunollie: Twenty-fifth chief of the clan and the second son of Patrick of Dunollie.                                           Sir John rose from a midshipman to the rank of Vice Admiral, R.N., K.C.B. He was known for his courageous seamanship and for his consideration to his tenants as chief of the clan. He married in 1826 Elizabeth Sophia who was the daughter of Captain Charles Timmins of the East India Company. He was born in 1789 and died in 1865. 

Captain Alexander John of Dunollie: Twenty-sixth chief of the clan and the eldest son of Sir John (25th) of Dunollie.                                                                                      Captain of Artillery in Crimea. Married Anna who was the daughter of Thomas Barclay. Born in 1827 and died in 1867 seven weeks after his marriage. 

Lt. Colonel Charles Allan of Dunollie: Twenty-seventh chief of the clan and the third son of Sir John (25) of Dunollie. Member of the Bengal Staff Corps. He was active in the local government of Argyll and encouraged the formation of Clan MacDougall societies. Married Harriet Elizabeth who was the daughter of Charles Munro of Ingsdon. He was born in 1831 and died without issue in 1896. 

Deputy Surgeon General Henry Robert Lawrence of Dunollie: Twenty-eighth chief of the clan and the fifth son of Sir John (25) of Dunollie.                       Received an M.D. from the University of Edinburgh and made a career in India where he was a member of the Bombay Medical Service. He married Caroline Harriette who was the daughter of James Forsyth of Glengorm on the island of Mull. He was born in 1835 and died 1899.

 Colonel Alexander James of Dunollie: Twenty-ninth chief of the clan and the son of Henry Robert Lawrence (28th) of Dunollie.                                                Received an M.B. and Ch. B. from the university of Edinburgh and became a colonel in the Royal army Medical Corps. He was a member of the first expeditionary force in 1914. He was twice mentioned in dispatches, and was made a Commander of Saint Michael and Saint George. Served in the Home Guard and as a welfare officer in the second World War. He was a supporter of youth organizations and greatly interested in the heritage of the clan. He married Colina Edith who was the daughter of Alexander MacDougall of Sorba. He was born in 1872 and died in 1953. He had three daughters: Colin Helen Elizabeth: Jean Louisa Morag, who married Dr. Stephen Hadfield: and Margaret Hope Garnons.

 Coline Helen Elizabeth MacDougall of MacDougall and Dunollie: Thirtieth chief of the clan and daughter of Alexander of Dunollie.                                   Married in 1949 Leslie Grahame-Thomson, a member of Royal Society of Architects, who assumed the name of Grahame MacDougall when his wife became Chief. Madam MacDougall of MacDougall served in the armed forces during the second World War and was actively interested in preserving the heritage of the Clan. She was born in 1904 and died in 1990.

 Morag Morley MacDougall: Thirty-first chief of the clan and a niece of Coline Helen Elizabeth (30th). 

EXTRACTS from the book Journeying in MacDougall Country.