George Munro, 10th Baron of Foulis
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George Munro of Foulis is traditionally the 10th Baron and 13th successive chief of the Clan Munro
. However he is only the third successive chief of the clan who can be proved by contemporary evidence. He was the eldest son of Hugh Munro, 9th Baron of Foulis
and was seated at Foulis Castle
.
, George Munro of Foulis was on the 17th of October 1410, before Hugh Fraser, 1st Lord Lovat
- Sherriff of Inverness, served heir to his mother (Isobel Keith) in the lands of Lissera, Borrowston and Lybster in Caithness
. These lands being disponed by his maternal grandmother, the Lady Mariotta Cheyne as one of the co-heiresses of her father Sir Reginald Cheyne of Inverugie. Mackenzie also states that George Munro of Foulis obtained a charter under the Great Seal
of king James I of Scotland
dated at St Andrews
on the 22nd of July 1426, in which he had confirmed to him the land and baronies of Easter and Wester Fowlis (Foulis), Katewell, Contullich, Dann, Carbisdale, Inverlael, Findon and others. Mackenzie also states that George Munro of Foulis is recorded on charters of the years 1437, 1438, 1439, 1440 and 1449. 20th century historian RW Munro does not deny these charters but does say that the evidence for them is "lacking". However he does confirm that George Munro is on record in 1437 and 1449.
who were septs and supporters of the Clan Mackenzie
whose chief was Alexander Mackenzie of Kintail. The Kinlochewe clans took hostage the nephew of the Earl of Ross
. The Munros and Dingwalls in response pursued and overtook the rising clans at Bealach nam Broig. A bitter battle ensued, fuelled by old feuds and animosities. In the end the Kinlochewe clans of the MacIvers, MacAulays and MacLeays were almost utterly extinguished and the Munros and Dingwalls won a hollow victory: though the Earl's nephew had been rescued, they had lost a great number of men. George is believed to have been killed at the Battle of Bealach nam Broig
in 1452, this is likely as it is confirmed by records that he was dead by 1453.
of Balnagowan. Different sources mention the child they had. Mackenzie states that George Munro and Isobella's only son was another George Munro said to have been killed with his father at the Battle of Bealach nam Broig in 1452. However the Munro Tree of 1734 states that their child was called William Munro. Mackenzie states that William Munro was born from George's second marriage and that he is recorded in a document from 1499.
George Munro married secondly a daughter of MacCulloch of Plaids. They had two sons:
1. John Munro, 11th Baron of Foulis
(heir and successor).
2. Hugh Munro, 1st of Coul and later Balconie
. The clergyman and writer Donald Monro, Dean of the Isles
was his grandson. Other notable descendants included Sir Thomas Munro, 1st Baronet (of Linderits) and William Munroe who became a landowner in the United States and his brother, Benedict Munro, Baron von Meikeldorf
a German Baron.
Clan Munro
-Origins:The main traditional origin of the clan is that the Munros came from Ireland and settled in Scotland in the 11th century and that they fought as mercenary soldiers under the Earl of Ross who defeated Viking invaders in Rosshire...
. However he is only the third successive chief of the clan who can be proved by contemporary evidence. He was the eldest son of Hugh Munro, 9th Baron of Foulis
Hugh Munro, 9th Baron of Foulis
Hugh Munro, 9th Baron of Foulis was a 14th - 15th century Scottish soldier and said to be 12th chief of the Clan Munro in the Scottish Highlands. Hugh was seated at Foulis Castle in Ross-shire, Scotland...
and was seated at Foulis Castle
Foulis Castle
Foulis Castle lies in the parish of Kiltearn, about 1.5 miles southwest of the village of Evanton in the Highland area of northern Scotland. The castle has been the seat of the Clan Munro for over eight hundred years. During the 11th century, the clan chief was given the castle and Foulis lands as...
.
Lands and Charters
According to 19th century historian Alexander MackenzieAlexander Mackenzie (historian)
Alexander Mackenzie, FSA Scot was a Scottish historian, author, magazine editor and politician. He was born on a croft, in Gairloch. In 1869 he settled in Inverness, where he later became an editor and publisher of the Celtic Magazine, and the Scottish Highlander. Mackenzie wrote numerous clan...
, George Munro of Foulis was on the 17th of October 1410, before Hugh Fraser, 1st Lord Lovat
Hugh Fraser, 1st Lord Lovat
Hugh Fraser, 1st Lord Lovat , was a Scottish peer, and the Chief of the Clan Fraser.Fraser was the son of Thomas Fraser, 5th laird of Lovat, and Lady Janet Dunbar. His grandfather, Hugh Fraser , was one of the hostages for the ransom of King James I of Scotland in 1424...
- Sherriff of Inverness, served heir to his mother (Isobel Keith) in the lands of Lissera, Borrowston and Lybster in Caithness
Caithness
Caithness is a registration county, lieutenancy area and historic local government area of Scotland. The name was used also for the earldom of Caithness and the Caithness constituency of the Parliament of the United Kingdom . Boundaries are not identical in all contexts, but the Caithness area is...
. These lands being disponed by his maternal grandmother, the Lady Mariotta Cheyne as one of the co-heiresses of her father Sir Reginald Cheyne of Inverugie. Mackenzie also states that George Munro of Foulis obtained a charter under the Great Seal
Great Seal of Scotland
The Great Seal of Scotland allows the monarch to authorise official documents without having to sign each document individually. Wax is melted in a metal mould or matrix and impressed into a wax figure that is attached by cord or ribbon to documents that the monarch wishes to make official...
of king James I of Scotland
James I of Scotland
James I, King of Scots , was the son of Robert III and Annabella Drummond. He was probably born in late July 1394 in Dunfermline as youngest of three sons...
dated at St Andrews
St Andrews
St Andrews is a university town and former royal burgh on the east coast of Fife in Scotland. The town is named after Saint Andrew the Apostle.St Andrews has a population of 16,680, making this the fifth largest settlement in Fife....
on the 22nd of July 1426, in which he had confirmed to him the land and baronies of Easter and Wester Fowlis (Foulis), Katewell, Contullich, Dann, Carbisdale, Inverlael, Findon and others. Mackenzie also states that George Munro of Foulis is recorded on charters of the years 1437, 1438, 1439, 1440 and 1449. 20th century historian RW Munro does not deny these charters but does say that the evidence for them is "lacking". However he does confirm that George Munro is on record in 1437 and 1449.
Battle of Bealach nam Broig
It was during George Munro of Foulis's chieftaincy that a rising took place in 1452 by a group of clans from KinlocheweKinlochewe
Kinlochewe is a village in Wester Ross in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. It is in the parish of Gairloch, the community of Torridon and Kinlochewe and the Highland Council area. It lies near the head of Loch Maree in its magnificent valley, and serves as a junction between the main Ullapool...
who were septs and supporters of the Clan Mackenzie
Clan MacKenzie
Clan Mackenzie is a Highland Scottish clan, traditionally associated with Kintail and lands in Ross-shire.-Origins:The Mackenzies, a powerful clan of Celtic stock, were not among the clans that originated from Norman ancestry. Descendants of the long defunct royal Cenél Loairn of Dál Riata, they...
whose chief was Alexander Mackenzie of Kintail. The Kinlochewe clans took hostage the nephew of the Earl of Ross
Earl of Ross
The Mormaer or Earl of Ross was the leader of a medieval Gaelic lordship in northern Scotland, roughly between the River Oykel and the River Beauly.-Origins and transfers:...
. The Munros and Dingwalls in response pursued and overtook the rising clans at Bealach nam Broig. A bitter battle ensued, fuelled by old feuds and animosities. In the end the Kinlochewe clans of the MacIvers, MacAulays and MacLeays were almost utterly extinguished and the Munros and Dingwalls won a hollow victory: though the Earl's nephew had been rescued, they had lost a great number of men. George is believed to have been killed at the Battle of Bealach nam Broig
Battle of Bealach nam Broig
The Battle of Bealach nam Broig was a battle fought between Scottish clans from the lands of north-west Ross, against north-eastern clans of Ross who supported the Earl of Ross...
in 1452, this is likely as it is confirmed by records that he was dead by 1453.
Family and descendants
George Munro of Foulis married twice. His first marriage was to Isobella Ross, daughter of the chief of Clan RossClan Ross
Clan Ross is a Highland Scottish clan. The original chiefs of the clan were the original Earls of Ross.-Origins:Clan Ross is a Highland Scottish clan first named as such by King Malcolm IV of Scotland in 1160...
of Balnagowan. Different sources mention the child they had. Mackenzie states that George Munro and Isobella's only son was another George Munro said to have been killed with his father at the Battle of Bealach nam Broig in 1452. However the Munro Tree of 1734 states that their child was called William Munro. Mackenzie states that William Munro was born from George's second marriage and that he is recorded in a document from 1499.
George Munro married secondly a daughter of MacCulloch of Plaids. They had two sons:
1. John Munro, 11th Baron of Foulis
John Munro, 11th Baron of Foulis
John Munro of Foulis was a Scottish clan chief of the highland Clan Munro in Rosshire, Scotland. He is by tradition the 11th Baron of Foulis and 14th overall chief of the clan...
(heir and successor).
2. Hugh Munro, 1st of Coul and later Balconie
Balconie Castle
Balconie Castle lay in the parish of Kiltearn, about half a mile east of the village of Evanton in the Highlands of Scotland.-History:The castle was an old seat of the Mormaers and Earls of Ross, chiefs of Clan Ross. It was later held by their successors, the Clan MacDonald, Earls of Ross...
. The clergyman and writer Donald Monro, Dean of the Isles
Donald Monro (Dean)
Donald Monro was a Scottish clergyman, who wrote an early and historically valuable description of the Hebrides and other Scottish islands and enjoyed the honorific title of “Dean of the Isles”.-Origins:...
was his grandson. Other notable descendants included Sir Thomas Munro, 1st Baronet (of Linderits) and William Munroe who became a landowner in the United States and his brother, Benedict Munro, Baron von Meikeldorf
Benedict Munro, Baron von Meikeldorf
Sir Benedict Munro, Baron von Meikeldorf was a Scottish soldier of the English and Scottish Civil War who settled in Germany during the mid 17th century...
a German Baron.