Norman Magnus MacLeod of MacLeod

Biography

Norman Magnus MacLeod of MacLeod was born on 27 July 1839. He was the eldest son of Norman MacLeod of MacLeod (1812–1898), 25th chief of Clan MacLeod and his wife Louisa Barbara St John (1818–1880), only daughter of the 14th Baron St John of Bletso. He was educated at Harrow and in 1858, at the age of 19, was commissioned into the 74th Highlanders, immediately joining the regiment in India. He served as aide de camp to General Sir Hope Grant, Commander in Chief in the Presidency of Madras from 1862 to 1865. He retired from the 74th Highlanders as a Captain in 1872.

In 1878, MacLeod of MacLeod was appointed as Political Agent on the Transvaal border at the outbreak of the Zulu War. In 1879, he commanded a Swazi army of, reportedly, 8,000, plus an undetermined number of British officers and (presumably) NCOs, against the Pedis. The Swazi army decisively defeated the Pedis at the Battle of Wulu.

MacLeod of MacLeod returned home in 1880 and, upon the death of his father in 1885, succeeded as the 26th Chief of MacLeod.

In 1881, MacLeod of MacLeod married Emily Caroline, daughter of Sir Charles Isham, 10th Baronet. They had two daughters, Margaret Louisa and Emily Pauline. He died on 5 November 1929.

The MacLeod #4 tartan, commonly known as Macleod hunting tartan, was approved by MacLeod of Macleod in 1910.

Succession of the chiefship after his death

As MacLeod of MacLeod had no sons, he was succeeded as clan chief by his younger brother Sir Reginald, the 27th Chief. Sir Reginald had no sons and a further brother's only son had been killed in action in 1915. As there were, therefore, no immediate male heirs, Sir Reginald was succeeded by his eldest daughter Dame Flora MacLeod of MacLeod (1878–1976), 28th chief and first female chief of the clan