Title of the Chief
The two main Clan historians, Buchanan of Auchmar (60) writing in 1723 uses the term ‘Laird of Buchanan’, while Guthrie Smith (61) writing in 1896 uses the term ‘Laird of Buchanan’ to describe the chiefs up to and including Sir Maurice the 10th of Buchanan and then ‘Buchanan of that Ilk’ up to and including Sir George the 15th of Buchanan and thereafter Buchanan of Buchanan.
The chief of a Highland clan could be referred to as the ‘Laird of’, meaning the head of the clan (a patrimonial title) (62), e.g. Laird of Buchanan.
The title ‘of that Ilk’ was historically used by both Highland and Lowland clans to indicate head or chiefship (again a patrimonial title), e.g. Buchanan of that Ilk. However, in the early 19th century ‘of that Ilk’ fell out of favour with Highland chiefs (63) who adopted a duplication of the patronymic, regardless of the ownership of territory or estate, e.g. Buchanan of Buchanan.
Given the current Highland practice, Buchanan of Buchanan is likely to be the preferred contemporary title, but for ease of reading and clarity, 'nth' of Buchanan is used in the following paragraphs. Both the spelling Buchanan and Buchannan are used interchangeably in historical documents.
The Chiefs
The first six Clan Chiefs are poorly represented in historical records and are included by some Clan historians and omitted by others. Buchanan of Auchmar and Guthrie Smith commence their respective numbering of Chiefs at a different person.
It is not until the 7th laird that “we reach the firm ground of documentary proof.” Principal authors of the Buchanan histories, William Buchanan of Auchmar (1723) and John Guthrie Smith (1896), commence their respective numbering of Chiefs at different people in the Buchanan lineage.
Also, they describe a different order and numbering for the Chiefs following Sir Walter 11th of Buchanan. In part, this is due to the heir apparent not succeeding to the chiefship before he dies and the chiefship passes directly from grandfather to grandchild.
The following lineage reconciles the Chief’s numbering from Guthrie Smith, Buchanan of Auchmar and Hugh Peskett’s petition for the current Chief.
Numbers in circles reference an individual in the family trees presented in Hugh Peskett’s petition for the current Chief (2018). Red circles reference the main Chiefly line and the blue circle reference the Leny branch.
Succession of Clan Buchanan Chiefs
Click the image to see the line of Chiefs as a Family Tree
1st Laird / Chief
Anselan (64)
b.B4 1016
Anselan was in the service of Malcolm II of Scotland from whom he received a grant of land in the Lennox. He was Senechal to the Earl of Lennox. Anselan had a son
1 ♂︎ John
Very little is known of the Laird’s/Chief’s between Anselan, 1st Laird, and MacBeath, 6th Laird, and there may have been others in this lineage.
2nd Laird / Chief
John (65)
3rd Laird / Chief
Anselan (65)
4th Laird / Chief
Walter (66)
5th Laird / Chief
Girald (66) (aka Bernard)
6th Laird / Chief
MacBeath MacAuselan (66) (aka MacBed or MacBethe)
b.c. 1165
7th Laird / Chief
Anselan MacAuselan 66, 67 (aka Absalon)
d.c. 1225
Anselan was Seneschal to Maldoven/Malduin, Earl of Lennox 68. Anselan obtained a charter from the Earl in 1225 for the Loch Lomond island of Clarinch (also shown as Clareinch, Clairinch or Clairinsh, which provides the Clan's call to war/meet, “Clar Innis”). The charter was confirmed by King Alexander II in 1231.
Anselan had three sons1 ♂︎ Gilbert, his successor
2 ♂︎ Methlen (clan tradition styles him as the ancestor of the MacMillans, but Clan MacMillan and DNA analysis refutes this),
3 ♂︎ Coleman, the ancestor of the MacColemans 15
Both Buchanan of Auchmar and Guthrie Smith identifies him as the 7th Laird of Buchanan. However, Guthrie Smith commences his numbering of Chiefs from him as the 1st chief.
8th Laird / Chief
Gilbert Buchanan 16, 67 (aka Gilbert MacAuselan)
b. 1231 d. 1274
Gilbert was the first to assume the name “Buchquhanane” or “Buchanan” (anglicized) in place of the patronymic “MacAuselan.” MacAuselan was still used intermittently for several generations. Buchanan being the name of the parish comes from the Gaelic “bogh chanan” meaning “low ground belonging to the canon” or the form “Mac-a-chanonaich” meaning “son of the canon.”
Gilbert had one son1 ♂︎ Maurice
9th Chief
Sir Maurice Buchanan 16, 69 ❶
d.c. 1370
Maurice had three sons
1 ♂︎ Maurice, his successor
2 ♂︎ Allan, who married the heiress of Leny
3 ♂︎ John, the ancestor of the cadets of Auchneiven.
10th Chief
Sir Maurice Buchanan (16, 69) ❷
b.c. 1290 d.c. 1373
Maurice lived to a considerable age, married Margaret, the daughter of Sir Walter Menteith of Rusky, and by her had
1 ♂︎ Walter
Margaret was the daughter of Sir Walter Menteith of Rusky, and granddaughter of Sir John of Menteith (Sheriff of Dunbarton Castle) and Helena daughter of Gartnait (Earl of Mar).
11th Chief
Sir Walter Buchanan (69, 70) ❸
b. 1338, succeeded as Chief in 1338
Sir Walter, married Margaret, and by her had
1 ♂︎ Walter, his successor
2 ♂︎ Alexander, aka Alexander Macausland, who reputedly killed the Duke of Clarence at the Battle of Baugé
on 21 March 1421 and who later died in the battle of Verneuil in 1424
3 ♂︎ John ❺, who married about 1392, Janet de Lany, the heiress of Leny and was the ancestor of the cadets of Leny
[Buchanan of Auchmar identifies this John as the 12th Chief; but was known as the 1st of Leny]
4 ♀︎ Elizabeth, married Sir Andrew Gray of Foulis
5 ♀︎ Jean, who married Humphrey Cuninghame of Glengarnock.
12th Chief
Sir Walter Buchanan (24, 71) ❹
d. 1464, succeeded as Chief before 1394
Walter first married an unidentified woman (possibly Margaret Galbraith) and by her had
1 ♂︎ Patrick, his successor
2 ♂︎ Maurice, who was Treasurer to Princess Margaret Stuart (former Dauphine of France), daughter to King James I of Scotland and Joan Beaufort.
It has been represented over the centuries that Thomas was a third son, the ancestor of the Carbeth, Gartincaber and Drummakill lines. Experts in analysis of ancient documents have reviewed several charters that link Thomas as the brother of Patrick and have concluded that the documents appear to have been forged. It is however recognised that the clan’s Carbeth, Gartincaber and Drummakill branches are a very important part of the clan’s history.
Second, in 1443 he married Isobel Stewart, daughter of Murdoch Stewart, 2nd Duke of Albany.They did not have any children.
13th Chief
Sir Patrick Buchanan (73, 74) ❻
d.B4 June 1477
Patrick married Jonet Cunynghame of Galbraith and by her had
1 ♂︎ Andrew, dsp before 1463 (dsp. = "decessit sine prole" or "died without issue"; issue = child)
2 ♂︎ Walter, his successor
3 ♀︎ Annabella, married James Stewart of Baldorans.
4 ♂︎ Patrick; an illegitimate son.
14th Chief
Sir Walter Buchanan (74, 75) ❽
b. 1443 d. 1526 Succeeded as Chief by charter of resignation of Patrick, his father, in 1474
Walter married Isabelle, daughter of William Graham, 2nd Lord Graham, before Nov 1463 and by her had
1 ♂︎ Patrick, dvp before 1509 (dvp. = decessit vitae patre, died in the father's lifetime) leaving issue (child)
2 ♂︎ John, first ancestor of cadets of Arnprior (Arnpryor), the “King of Kippen” during the reign of James V of Scotland,
3 ♂︎ Maurice,
4 ♂︎ Walter, first ancestor of cadets of Spittal,
5 ♀︎ Margaret, married Alexander Graham, 2nd Earl of Menteith,
6 ♀︎ Elizabeth, married Sir William Stirling of Cadder.
He was succeeded as Chief by his grandson, George.
b.c. 1458 dvp.B4 1509
NOT CONSIDERED THE LAIRD/CHIEF, as he died before his father.
Patrick married Margaret Campbell, daughter of the Earl of Argyll, in 1486 and had
1 ♂︎ George
2 ♂︎ Walter,
3 ♀︎ Unknown, whom married the laird of Auchinbreck,
4 ♀︎ Unknown, whom married the laird of Calder.
5 ♂︎ Robert, an illegitimate son.
It has been stated that Patrick was killed at the Battle of Flodden in 1513, but charter references suggest otherwise.
15th Chief
Sir George Buchanan (75, 76) ⓭
b.c. 1506 - d. 15 February 1560, succeeded his grandfather, Walter, in 1526.
George fought in the Battle of Pinkie in 1547.
George first married Margaret, daughter of Sir William Edmonstone of Duntreath, and by her had
1 ♂︎ John, dvp. before 1560, leaving issue,
2 ♀︎ Helen,
3 ♀︎ Susanna.
Second he married Janet, daughter of Cunninghame of Craigens, and by her had
4 ♂︎ William, first ancestor of the cadets of Auchmar,
5 ♀︎ Margaret, married David Cunningham of Bartinholm.
dvp.B4 March 1561
NOT CONSIDERED THE LAIRD/CHIEF, as he died before his father.
John married firstly Elizabeth, daughter of Lord Levingstoun, about 1544 and by her had
1 ♂︎ George.
Second he married Helen Chisholm, daughter of William, Bishop of Dunblane, in 1552 and by her had
2 ♀︎ Janet Buchanan, who married Thomas Buchanan of Ibert, Lord Privy Seal,
3 ♀︎ Elizabeth.
16th Chief
Sir George Buchanan (24, 77) ⓰
b.c. 1540 - d.c. 1599, succeeded as Chief in March 1561.
George succeeded his grandfather, George, 15th of Buchanan, in 1561. George obtained a charter in his favour from Maldouen, Earl of Lennox, in the reign of Mary Queen of Scots, of the lands of Buchanan, Auchmar and Sallochy, the isles of Clairinch and Keppinch ("The Kitchen" crannog), with the bell and alms of Saint Kessog, dated 1564.
George married Lady Mary, daughter of John Graham, Earl of Menteith, about 1561 and by her had
1 ♂︎ John, his successor,
2 ♀︎ Helen,married Alexander Colquhoun of Luss,
3 ♀︎ Susanna, married John Macfarlane, 12th Chief of Macfarlane and 15th Baron of Arrochar,
4 ♀︎ Annas, married Archibald Campbell of Rahein.
17th Chief
Sir John Buchanan (24, 78) ⓱
d.c. 1629, succeeded as Chief in October 1602.
John became heir to his father in a Charter of 26 October 1602. He was known for his frequent travels to foreign nations and other extravagances put the estate into much debt, including 6,000 pounds Scots to each of the Universities of Edinburgh and St Andrews.
John married Annabella, daughter of Adam Erskine, Lord Commendator of Cambuskenneth, and by her had
1 ♂︎ George, his successor,
2 ♂︎ Walter, dsp.
18th Chief
Sir George Buchanan (78, 79) ⓲
d. 1651
George married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir George Preston of Craigmillar, and by her had
1 ♂︎ John, his successor,
2 ♀︎ Helen, married Sir John Rollo of Bannockburn,
3 ♀︎ Agnes, married James Stewart of Rosyth,
4 ♀︎ Jean (AKA Janet), married John Leckie, 12th of that Ilk.
George commanded the Stirlingshire Regiment in the Civil Wars of Charles I and led the clan at the battle of Dunbar (1650) on the side of the Covenanters. He was taken prisoner at Inverkeithing (1651). He died in prison in 1651.
19th Chief
Sir John Buchanan (78, 79, 80) ⓴
b.c. 1630 d.B4 September 1681
John is the last officially recognised Chief before the current Chief, John Michael Baillie-Hamilton Buchanan. John was reluctant to become the heir to the estate because of the debts incurred by his grandfather, John.
John married firstly Mary, daughter of Henry Erskine, Lord Cardross, in 1653 and by her had
1 ♀︎ Elizabeth, married (before 1680) James Stewart of Ardvorlich,
After the death of Mary, he married secondly Jean Pringle in 1677 and by her had
2 ♀︎ Janet, married (July 1696) Henry Buchanan of Leny.
When he died in September 1681, John left no male heirs (81). He made two attempts to pass the chiefship to suitable candidates by arranging their marriage to his oldest daughter (Elizabeth). Firstly to Robert Buchanan, Advocate (the son of John Buchanan of Arnprior), and secondly to Major George Grant (details in a following section). In both cases, Elizabeth refused these arranged marriages. Consequently, no arrangement was finalised by which the chiefship could be passed on to the descendants of his daughter (82).
John had inherited significant debt and during his chiefship, significant parts of the Buchanan Estate were sold, and the final portions of it were lost due to defaulting on creditors. Much of the Clan’s lands were purchased from his creditors by James Graham, 3rd Marquis of Montrose. With the lack of male heirs, the direct chiefly line ended at this time.
Current Clan Chief and his petition
The Lord Lyon King of Arms has recognised a new chief of the Clan Buchanan (125).
A petition to claim the chiefship of Clan Buchanan was lodged with the Court of Lord Lyon in December 2016 and in August 2018 Lord Lyon allowed the petition thus recognizing John Michael Baillie-Hamilton Buchanan of that Ilk and Arnprior, as the Chief of the Name and Arms of Buchanan (83, 84). After a gap of 337 years, the clan now has a recognized chief.
Lord Lyon was satisfied that the petitioner:
is the senior representative of the cadet branch of the chiefly line known as Buchanan of Leny, and that the remaining cadet branches of the chiefly line; namely Buchanan of Auchmar and Buchanan of Spittal, are extinct in law and in fact. (Descendants of Thomas Buchanan of Gartencaber were excluded from consideration because the C15th documents that purport to link him to the chiefly line were demonstrated to be forgeries (85, 86).
has association with the chiefly lands of Strathyre and that these were conferred on him in an unbroken chain of inheritance. In circumstances like this, the "Jeffery" Principle can be applied (see right).
Note, the Court of Lord Lyon advertised the announcement and call for interlocutors (submissions) on his website, on the CBSI website, in the Buchanan Banner, in the mainstream press and on the CBSI Facebook page.
The Court of Lord Lyon: The approach I am adopting in this Petition follows the commonsense view that there is no fixed or uniform practice on the matter before me. In the words of Lord Jeffery in the case of Cuninghame v Cunyngham, (1849) 11 D 1139. The Jeffery principle:
“In my opinion the common-sense rule is, that the chief armorial dignities should follow the more substantial rights and dignities of the family. If the heir male succeeds to the title and estates, I think it reasonable that he should succeed to the armorial bearings of the head of house.”