Cameron of Erracht

The progenitor of the family of Cameron of Erracht was Ewen Cameron (fl. 16th century), son of Ewen Mor Cameron, XIII of Lochiel, chief of Clan Cameron^[2] by his second wife Marjory Mackintosh,^[1] grand-daughter of Malcolm Beg Mackintosh, X of Mackintosh.^[3] Ewen's son was John Dow M'Ewen V'Ewen Cameron, 2nd of Erracht who was executed in around 1585 for the murder of Donald Dubh Cameron, XV Chief of Clan Cameron, in 1569.^[4] John Bodach M'Iain V'Ewen Cameron, 3rd of Erracht was also executed on the orders of Cameron of Lochiel in 1613.^[5]

Donald Cameron, 7th of Erracht was born shortly before the Jacobite rising of 1715.^[1] Thirty years later during the Jacobite rising of 1745 he joined Cameron of Lochiel and was second in command at the historic Glenfinnan gathering.^[1]

After the Jacobite defeat at the Battle of Culloden, Cameron of Erracht was a homeless warrior in the mountains for three years.^[1] He had three children, the eldest of whom was Sir Alan Cameron of Erracht K.C.B.^[1]

Sir Alan Cameron of Erracht raised the 79th or Cameron Highlanders in 1793.^[1] He was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant and led the regiment through the severe campaigns in Flanders from 1794 to 1795.^[1] In 1797 the regiment was broken up and two hundred and ten men joined the Black Watch regiment.^[1] In 1798 Cameron of Erracht raised a second 79th regiment that was seven hundred and eighty strong and after taking part in many engagements he died in 1828 in Fulham.^[1]

Captain Ludovick Duncombe-Jewell Cameron (born Richard Jewell; 1866–1947) was a writer and Cornish-language enthusiast who lived in Kent. In 1904 he assumed the surname Cameron when he married his second wife, Janet Sarah Bruce, daughter of Gen. Robert Bruce of Glendouglie.^[6] Although he claimed to be the chieftain of Cameron of Erracht, he died without having been able to establish his claim.^[1]