Stewart Of Appin
Sir John Stewart of Bonkyl, son of Alexander, High Steward of Scotland, was the ancestor of this west Highland clan. One of his descendants obtained the Lordship of Lorn through marriage to the heiress of Lorn. Sir John Stewart of Lorn was murdered at
Dunstaffnage Castle about 1463 and his son Dougal became 1st of Appin. Dougal unsuccessfully tried to recover the Lordship of Lorn and was supported by the MacLarens of Balquhidder.
He strengthened his possession of Appin and for several centuries his followers were on terms of friendship with the MacLarens of Balquhidder. The first chief of Appin was killed when supporting the MacLarens. The clan fought at the Battle of Flodden (1513) and Pinkie (1547). At Pinkie the clan was led by Donald Stewart of Invernahyle, known as
Donald nan Ord. They supported Montrose at the battle of Inverlochy and also fought at the battles of Auldearn and Kilsyth. The chief of Appin was outlawed and his lands forfeited, but they were returned to him at the Restoration. The clan joined Dundee's campaign in 1688 and supported the Jacobites in the Risings of 1715 and 1745. After the Battle of Culloden the banner of the Appin regiment was one of the few saved from destruction.
In 1765 the estate was sold by the 9th chief who was succeeded in the chiefship by his cousin Duncan, 6th of Ardshiel, who became 10th of Appin, in 1769. In 1782 the loth chief obtained the restoration of his confiscated paternal estate of Ardshiel. The ruined fortress of Castle Stalker, at the entrance to Loch Laich in Appin, once stronghold of the Stewarts of Lorn, passed into Campbell possession but was reacquired by a Stewart.
Return
to Tour Appin
