Ewen Cameron of Lochiel

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Sir Ewen Cameron of Lochiel (February 1629 – February 1719 ^[1]) was a Scottish highland chieftain, the 17th Chief of Clan Cameron. He was the eldest son of Margaret Campbell and John Cameron (c. 1567/68 - c. 1647). He was the grandson of Allan Cameron of Lochiel, 16th Chief of Clan Cameron (c. 1567/68 - c. 1647; son of John Cameron and unknown daughter Mackintosh).^[2]

Having lost his father in infancy, he passed part of his youth with the Marquess of Argyll at Inveraray, leaving his guardian about 1647 to take up his duties as Chief of Clan Cameron, a position in which he succeeded his grandfather. In 1653, Lochiel joined the Earl of Glencairn in his rising on behalf of Charles II, and after the defeat of this attempt he served the royalist cause by harassing General George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle.

In 1681, he was knighted by Charles II, and in July 1689, he was with Viscount Dundee at the Battle of Killiecrankie. He was too old to share personally in the Jacobite rising of 1715 but his sympathies were with the Stuarts, and his son led the Clan Camerons at Sheriffmuir.

Lochel had three wives and many children:

His first wife was Mary Macdonald, daughter of Sir Donald Macdonald, 8th of Sleat.
His second wife was Isabel Maclean, daughter of Sir Lachlan Maclean of Duart. Their children included: Major Donald Cameron (d. 1718), Alan Cameron, Margaret Cameron, Ann Cameron, Katherine Cameron, Janet Cameron (d. 9 Feb 1759). Son John MacEwen Cameron of Lochiel (d. 1747/48), succeeded as 18th Chief of Clan Cameron.
His third wife was Jean Barclay, daughter of Robert Barclay, 2nd of Urie. Their children included: Ludovick Cameron, Christian Cameron, Jean Cameron, Isabel Cameron, Ket Cameron, Una Cameron, Marjory Cameron, Lucy Cameron.^[2]

Lochiel, who died in 1719, is called by Macaulay the "Ulysses of the Highlands". He was a man of enormous strength and size. An incident showing his strength and ferocity in single combat is used by Sir Walter Scott in Lady of the Lake (canto v.). Lochiel's son and successor, John, died in Flanders in 1748. John's son Donald, sometimes called gentle Lochiel, joined Charles Edward, the Young Pretender in 1745, was wounded at the Battle of Culloden, and escaped to France, dying in the same year as his father. The 79th (The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders) Regiment of Foot was raised from among the members of the clan in 1793 by Sir Alan Cameron of Erracht (1753-1828).