Clan Gregor & Society

     This page provides the following information about the Clan Gregor and the American Clan Gregor Society:

• The Clan Gregor
• The Society's History
• Distinguished MacGregor Descendants, and
• Annual Activities of the Society

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Clan Gregor

     Clan Gregor, or MacGregor, is one of the oldest and purely Celtic Scottish Clans. It claims descent from King Kenneth Alpin who united the Picts and the Scots around 850. The MacGregors take their motto "S' Rioghal Mo Dhream" or "My Race Is Royal" from Gregor, a descendant of King Alpin.

     Established around Glen Orchy, Glen Lyon and Glen Strae, the "Children of the Mist" were a powerful clan for hundreds of years, holding steadfastly to the old Celtic clan rule of defending possessions by the sword.

     When force didn't work, their powerful neighbors persuaded the government to outlaw the MacGregors and destroy them by "Fyre and Sword". For most of 170 years, 1602 to 1774, the government practiced genocide against the Clan. They were forbidden to own land or use the name MacGregor and a price was put on the head of all male MacGregors.After the lifting of the proscription in 1774 the MacGregors quickly returned to their rightful place in society. A great symbolic closing of the old wounds took place when Sir Evan MacGregor, the 19th Chief, led a band of his clansmen to guard the "Honors of Scotland" during the visit of King George IV to Edinburgh in 1822.

     Sir Walter Scott was so taken by the gripping struggle of the MacGregors that he gave it wide exposure in his epic "Lady Of The Lake" and then greatly romanticized the life of Rob Roy MacGregor in a subsequent classic called simply "Rob Roy".

     It is no wonder that MacGregors look back on their tempestuous history and declare "Macgregor, desp[ite them, shall flourish forever!"

     The present Chief of the Clan Gregor in Scotland is Sir Malcolm MacGregor of MacGregor, 7th Baronet of Lanrick and Balquidder, 24th Chief of Clan Gregor. Succeeded his father April 2003. The Clan Gregor Society accepted him as their Chief at the International Gathering in July 2003. The American Clan Gregor Society accepted him as our Chief at the Gathering in October 2003 and followed up at the Gathering in 2004.

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Society History

     In 1909 a small number of MacGregors met in Charlottesville, Virginia. From this meeting a permanent organization was formed, with Edward May Magruder as Chieftain and Jesse Ewell as Scribe.

     Upon the advice of Sir Malcolm MacGregor, the Chief in Scotland, the group was named The American Clan Gregor Society rather than the American Branch of the Clan Gregor Society of Scotland. This distinction was due to the fact that we wished to give women equal representation in the Society while the Scottish group wished to continue their policy of a male only Society.

     It was mutually agreed that the two groups would be separate but maintain a close and friendly relationship, a relationship which has remained strong and successful down to the present day.

     The Society flourished from the beginning. It survived two World Wars and the Great Depression, emerging in fine fettle and has prospered and grown into the present organization, one of the largest and most active Scottish societies in the world.

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Distinguished MacGregor Descendants

These are some of the more distinguished descendants of MacGregors in this country.

• Gen. William "Billy" Mitchell, who revolutionized warfare by demonstrating to the military that airplanes could sink battleships.
   
• Gen. James Longstreet, CSA.
   
• John MacGregor, the piper at the Alamo.
   
• William Woodward, owner of the famous Bel Air Stables which produced several Derby winners.
   
• Asa Candler, founder of the Coca-Cola Company.
   
• Dr. George L. Magruder, one of the founders of Georgetown Hospital in Washington, DC.
   
• Samuel W. Beall, who led an early expedition to Pikes Peak and later laid out the city of Denver.
   
• Alexander Magruder, who was transported to Maryland as a prisoner in 1652. He became very successful, acquiring considerable wealth. There are an estimated 12,000 descendants of his in America today, some of whom appear above.
   
• Thomas MacGehee, born James MacGregor, who was in Virginia in 1654. He was a very successful farmer. There are many hundreds of his descendants in America today.
   

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Annual Activites

    Since 1910 the Society has published the American Clan Gregor Society Yearbook, which is found in most State Libraries and genealogical societies. The book reports on the activities of the Clan and contains articles of interest to MacGregors as well as much genealogical material. All members receive this book.

    We have a research library of over 1000 volumes on Scottish history and genealogy. It is housed at the University of Baltimore Library where it is available for visits or computer generated inquiries.

    The Society proudly maintains four scholarship programs, including a general scholarship to aid MacGregors based on either need or merit.

    The Society sponsors a Pipe Band along with the St. Andrew's Society of Washington, DC. They proudly wear the MacGregor tartan and play for official Society functions.

    We get together at over twenty regional Scottish events in the course of the year.

    The grand climax of our year is our MacGregors Gathering. There is a two day program of business meetings, a Memorial Service, a tour of historical interest and a ceilidh. The Gathering concludes with a Reception and Banquet. Our Pipe Band, Scottish songs and the tartan, worn in some manner by most of the guests, makes this a gala and memorable event.