Let me share with you the illustrious tale of your family, the MacQuarries, a clan deeply woven into the fabric of history, particularly associated with the enchanting island of Ulva. The very name ‘MacQuarrie’ resonates with the Gaelic ‘guaire’, signifying ‘noble’. Your lineage is intertwined with the Mackinnons, as Guaire, a figure of noble lineage, was a brother to Fingon, their common forebearer.

Venturing into the past, a pivotal figure emerges: Iain or John Macquarrie of Ulva, a chief of distinction who passed away around 1473. His presence as a witness in an earlier charter lends historical solidity. The shift brought about by the decline of the Lordship of the Isles granted the Macquarries greater autonomy, though their journey often aligned with their powerful neighbors, the Macleans of Duart. In the tumultuous year of 1545, John Macquarrie of Ulva rallied behind Donald, the final Lord of the Isles, in a bid against the Crown. This act marked him, along with other chiefs, as being associated with traitorous dealings with the English. The year 1609 saw James VI summon Macquarrie of Ulva and fellow chiefs to Iona, ostensibly for a reconciliatory gathering. However, their intentions were met with capture, leading to the signing of the Statutes of Iona, a proclamation putting an end to the era of the Lordships of the Isles.

Throughout the civil war, the Macquarries aligned with the Macleans in supporting the royalist cause. Ulva, a valiant leader, fell alongside his followers at the Battle of Inverkeithing in 1651. This chapter, though marked by adversity, did not define your family’s legacy. The eighteenth century ushered in challenges, as debts pressed upon Lachlan Macquarrie, compelling him to part with the ancestral lands. Yet, the MacQuarrie name endured, and a cousin from the esteemed house, another Lachlan, ascended to the rank of major general within the British army. His distinction extended across continents, as he served as Governor of New South Wales from 1809 to 1821. Renowned for his ethical fortitude, he fostered a balance between the powerful landowners and the convicts and emigrants seeking a fresh start in Australia. The Macquarrie River in Australia stands as a tribute to his legacy, often hailed as ‘the father of Australia’. His journey took him back to Ulva, where he reclaimed much of the ancestral land, bridging past and present.

In the arc of your family’s history, the main line of chiefs faded around 1818. General Macquarrie’s sole son, Lachlan, through his union with a daughter of Campbell of Airds, left no heirs. The echoes of your family’s story persist, a tapestry woven through time, marked by nobility, resilience, and far-reaching impact.