Lowland Scottish clan
Clan Crichton
is a
Lowland
Scottish clan
that historically ruled Dumfries.
[2]
History
[
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]
Origins of the clan
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One of the earliest baronies around
Edinburgh
was formed from the lands of
Kreitton
and is mentioned in charters of the early 12th century.
[2]
In 1128 Thurstan de Crechtune witnessed the foundation of
Holyrood Abbey
by
David I of Scotland
.
[2]
Thurstan's son, Thomas de Crichton is listed on the
Ragman Rolls
of 1296, swearing fealty to
Edward I of England
.
[2]
Thomas's three sons each extended the family's holdings.
[2]
The second son, William, married Isobel de Ross who was the heiress to the barony of Sanquhar in
Dumfriesshire
.
[2]
15th and 16th centuries
[
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In 1464 Sir Robert Crichton of Sanquhar was sheriff of the county of Dumfries. From 1468 to 1469 he was also Coroner of
Nithsdale
.
[2]
In 1487 his eldest son, Robert Crichton, was created a peer with the title
Lord Crichton of Sanquhar
by
James III of Scotland
.
[2]
Another descendant of Thomas de Crichton was
Sir William Crichton
who in 1439 was appointed to the office of Chancellor of Scotland, during the minority of
James II of Scotland
. Crichton organised the infamous "
Black Dinner
" at
Edinburgh Castle
of which he was constable.
The Earl of Douglas
and his brother were invited as guests of honour to a royal banquet at the castle, where King James was in residence. After the dinner the two Douglases were dragged from the boy king's presence and executed on Castle Hill. The
Clan Douglas
, never slow to take revenge, laid siege to the castle, which Crichton surrendered to the king, and a truce was declared. The Douglases would go on to make an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate Crichton, who was later given the title
Lord Crichton
.
[2]
The second Lord Crichton obtained the barony of Frendraught in Banffshire through marriage.
[2]
The third Lord Crichton sided with the
Duke of Albany
in his rebellion against his own brother,
James III of Scotland
. Crichton garrisoned
Crichton Castle
against the king, but the rebellion failed and as a result the Crichton estates were forfeited for treason.
[2]
In about 1552, William Crichton, third Lord Sanquhar, was killed in the house of the
Regent Arran
, by
Lord Sempill
(chief of
Clan Sempill
).
[2]
The sixth Lord Sanquhar died in disgrace, having been accused of being involved in the murder of a
fencing
master who had blinded Crichton in one eye years before.
[2]
James Crichton
is perhaps the most celebrated member of the Clan Crichton. He is known in history as "Admirable Crichton" due to his superb mental and physical prowess. He is said to have mastered all of the knowledge of his time and been able to speak and write in ten different languages, all by the age of twenty; he was also a feared swordsman. James Crichton studied at the
University of St Andrews
then travelled to
Paris
, where he challenged professors of the city to dispute with him on any branch of science or literature, offering to answer in any of his ten languages. The following day he was declared champion at a public
joust
. In 1582 Crichton was set upon by a gang, of which he killed five. Recognizing the sixth?the gang leader?as one of his own students, he dropped his guard, whereupon he was stabbed in the heart.
[2]
17th century and Civil War
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During the
Civil War
another
James Crichton, 1st Viscount Frendraught
supported the royalist
James Graham, 1st Marquis of Montrose
.
[2]
Crichton was present at Montrose's defeat at the
Battle of Carbisdale
(also known as the Battle of Invercarron) in 1650.
[2]
It is said that Crichton gave his horse to Montrose so that he could escape.
[2]
Crichton was taken prisoner.
[2]
Modern history
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The
double-barrelled
surname originates from the fact that the chiefs are direct descendants of the
Maitland family
, the
Earls of Lauderdale
, and
Clan Makgill
.
Royal Navy
Captain
Frederick Maitland
married Margaret Dick. Dick's grandmother was an heiress of
Clan Makgill
of Rankeilour and a descendant of
James Crichton, 1st Viscount Frendraught
of Clan Crichton through inter-marriage. One of their direct descendants Charles established his right to the chiefship and was recognised by a
Lyon Court
decree in 1980.
[3]
[4]
Members of the extended Maitland-Makgill-Crichton family include distinguished military officers, many of whom served in the various Scottish regiments during both World Wars, such as Major-General
Edward Maitland-Makgill-Crichton
[5]
and Brigadier
Henry Maitland-Makgill-Crichton
.
Clan Chiefs
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]
Incomplete list
- Charles Maitland-Makgill-Crichton (1942?1992)
[
citation needed
]
- David Maitland-Makgill-Crichton (b. 1972)
[6]
Clan castles
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]
- Crichton Castle
was the seat of the chief of Clan Crichton from the late 14th to 15th century.
- Sanquhar Castle
was built by the Crichtons in the 13th century.
- Blackness Castle
was built by the Crichtons in 1445.
- Monzie Castle
is the residence of the current chief of Clan Crichton.
- Frendraught Castle was the home of the Crichtons titled Baron of Frendraught and Viscount Frendraught in the 17th century.
- Crichton Chateau is the current residence of the self proclaimed chief of the American sector Michael Crichton.
See also
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References
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External links
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