Flora Macdonald History
1400s - Clan MacDonald took control of the
northwest area of Skye with their Duntulm
Castle being built 2 miles north of Kilmuir
Cemetery.
Clan MacDonald and Clan MacLeod of Dunvegan
Castle, 38 miles southwest, fought over
land for hundreds of years, with them ending
their feuds in the early 1600s on orders of the
King.
1689 - the first Jacobite
Risings started after the Catholic King
James II was overthrown by his Protestant
daughter Mary and her husband William of
Orange.
1722 - Flora MacDonald was born on South
Uist 43 miles west of Skye.
1728 - Flora's father died, with her mother
later marrying Hugh MacDonald of Armadale
Estate on the southeast of Skye.
1746 - the Jacobite's led by Bonnie Prince
Charlie lost their final Battle at the Battle
of Culloden. Flora MacDonald then helped Bonnie
Prince Charlie flee back to safety in France.
This Romantic Event led to Skye becoming the
most famous of all the Scottish Islands.
Clan Macdonald and Clan MacLeod of Skye
supported the Government at the time of
Culloden, but remained in Skye, so never fought
at the Battle. Many other Clan Macdonald and
MacLeod, from other areas, fought for the
Jacobite's at Culloden.
After the Battle of Culloden, Crofters were
refused the right to wear Tartan or own
Weapons.
The Highland Clearances began soon after
with Crofters being forced off their land to
make way for large scale Sheep Farming, also,
to reduce the population so Risings would be
less likely.
Many Crofters moved to Cities or emigrated
to North America and Canada.
1750 - Flora MacDonald married Allan
Macdonald, a Captain in the British Army.
1774 - Flora and Alan emigrated to North
Carolina in America.
1776 - the American War of Independence
broke out as Americans fought to put an end to
British rule in America. Alan Macdonald fought
for the British. He was captured then sent to
Canada with Flora.
1779 - Flora traveled back to Skye.
1783 - the American Revolution ended with
Britain loosing control. This led to Britain
using Australia as a place to offload people
they believed were trouble makers. Many
Crofters would then be deported to Australia
after being accused of Petty Crimes, and the
best known reason, Sheep Steeling.
1855 - Major William Fraser bought Kilmuir
Estate from the MacDonald's. Fraser gained a
name for being involved in the Highland
Clearances, forcing Crofters off their land to
make way for large scale Sheep Farming.
1790 - Flora MacDonald died on the Isle of
Skye, with her burial at Kilmuir Cemetery next
to the Skye Museum for Island Life.
1965 - the Skye Museum of Island Life was
created by using a Croft that had been on the
site since the early 1800s. That Croft had been
lived in up to 1957. More buildings have been
added over the years to show all the Trades
that were part of Croft Life in the 1800s.
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