On March 7th 1671 Robert “Rob” Roy MacGregor was baptised, his actual birthdate is lost in the midst of time.
The name “Rob Roy” derives from the Gaelic Raibert Ruadh, or Red Robert because of his red hair. Married to Helen Mary MacGregor (a cousin from Comer) on January 1, 1693 at Corryarklet, between Loch Katrine and Loch Lomond, they had at least five sons.
As the son of a senior member of the clan, Rob Roy was well educated in reading, writing, and in the crafts of fighting. His reputation as an unmatched swordsman and recognisable figure due to his red hair and pale complexion soon spread through Scotland and beyond.
Whether he was a notorious cattle thief, or a Highland hero, depends on which account of Rob Roy’s life you prefer. The writer Sir Walter Scott, for example, much exaggerated his fame, painting him as a defender of the Highland way of life.
His life as an outlaw started when he was unable to repay money that he had borrowed from the Duke of Montrose to fund his growing cattle trade. The Duke seized his lands and property, and Rob Roy fled with his debt unpaid. From this time onwards, he became a thorn in the Duke’s side, raiding his lands and that of his neighbours. While he profited from this, the story says that he never stole from the poor.
The Duke finally captured Rob Roy, but he made a famous escape with the aid of a friend in the Duke’s employ at the ford in the river near Balquhidder.
The MacGregors, including Rob Roy, continued to support the deposed King James VII against William of Orange and fought at the Battle of Killiecrankie on July 27, 1689. Later, Rob Roy led his clan in support of the Jacobites in 1715 and escaped prison once again having been charged with treason.
In 1723, Daniel Defoe was in Scotland as an English Government spy and wrote an embellished account of Rob’s adventures entitled Highland Rogue, further enhancing his reputation. While still an outlaw, the last 10 years of his life were relatively peaceful.
He died in his home after a short illness on December 28, 1734 and was buried in the small churchyard in Balquhidder on New Year’s Day, 1734.
