Mackintosh of Killachie
Mackintosh of Killachie was a minor Scottish noble family and the senior cadet branch of Clan Mackintosh in the Scottish Highlands.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Mackintosh of Killachie refers to a Scottish noble family rather than a commercial consumer brand. The family was the senior cadet branch of Clan Mackintosh, itself a prominent Highland clan associated with Clan Chattan. Its designation derived from the lands of Killachie, or Kyllochy, in the Scottish Highlands, and successive members held, acquired, administered, or contested estates in areas including Strathdearn, Daviot, Dalarossie, Dores, Petty, Inverness, and Ardersier. The line began with Alan Mackintosh, a younger son of Malcolm Beg Mackintosh, the tenth chief of Clan Mackintosh. Alan was styled the first of Killachie and was succeeded by his eldest son, William Mor. During the sixteenth century, the family participated in the political, military, and kinship networks of the Highlands. William Mor's sons John and Donald were recorded in bonds connected with Sir John Campbell of Cawdor and the Clan Chattan confederation. John supported Matthew Stewart, fourth Earl of Lennox, against the Regent Arran and fought at the Battle of Glasgow Muir in 1544. Because John died before his father, the succession passed to his brother Donald. Donald Mackintosh, third of Killachie, acted as tutor during the minority of Lachlan Mor Mackintosh, sixteenth chief of Clan Mackintosh. His son Angus, fourth of Killachie, was a notable member of Clan Chattan. Angus was involved in estate-boundary arbitration and agreements among Highland families, including the Calders, the Mackintoshes, the Roses of Kilravock, and the Gordons. He also witnessed the Clan Chattan bond of union in 1609. His sons established or continued related branches, including the Mackintoshes of Holm through Alexander. The seventeenth century brought further estate activity and involvement in regional conflict. Lachlan Mackintosh, fifth of Killachie, obtained the lands of Dalmigavie from the Calder family and was among the leaders involved in a feud with James Stuart, third Earl of Moray, in 1624. His successor, William, acquired the feu of Killachie or Kyllochy from Moray and was involved in the attempted capture of Grant of Carron in 1630. William's children included Donald, who became the seventh of Killachie, and several sons who served as progenitors of other Mackintosh branches. Donald Mackintosh, seventh of Killachie, appears in Scottish governmental and local records from the later seventeenth century. In 1678 he was named a Commissioner of Supply for Inverness-shire and was included in lists relating to bonds required from Highland families. His lands were recorded on the 1691 Valuation Roll. The family was also affected by the financial penalties imposed after the Scottish Civil Wars. Under legislation associated with the Act of Indemnity, the lairds of Killachie were fined £3,600 in 1662, a substantial sum relative to the assessed value of their lands. Angus Mackintosh, eighth of Killachie, supported the Jacobite cause as a captain in Mackintosh's battalion during the Jacobite rising of 1715. He was captured after the Battle of Preston and later lived mainly at Ardersier. His eldest son died unmarried, so the succession passed to his younger son Alexander, who became a London merchant. The next holder, Angus Mackintosh, tenth of Killachie, served as an officer in Keith's Highlanders during the Seven Years' War and later became a senior captain in the revived Fraser's Highlanders. He died unmarried in South Carolina while serving in America. John Mackintosh, eleventh of Killachie, also served in the British Army. He was wounded at the Battle of Fellinghausen in 1761, later joined the 68th Regiment, and served during the Great Siege of Gibraltar. His only son, James Mackintosh, succeeded him and became the family's best-known member. James Mackintosh, twelfth of Killachie, was born at Aldourie on 24 October 1765. Trained initially in medicine at the University of Aberdeen and Edinburgh, he ultimately pursued law, journalism, political writing, and history. He moved to London in 1788 and gained public attention with Vindiciae Gallicae, a defense of the principles of the French Revolution written in response to Edmund Burke. His 1799 Introductory Discourse on the Law of Nature and Nations further established his reputation as a jurist and political thinker. He later became a distinguished lawyer, Whig politician, and historian. He sold the family estate of Killachie in 1801. His descendants included Robert James Mackintosh, a Fellow of New College, Oxford, who edited his father's memoirs. Because the subject denotes a historical family and territorial designation, rather than a present-day product or corporate brand, information such as commercial offerings, marketing activity, corporate ownership, and current executives is not applicable or not established in the cited material.
History
The Mackintoshes of Killachie were a minor Scottish noble family and the senior cadet branch of Clan Mackintosh. Their identity was based on descent from Alan Mackintosh, the third son of Malcolm Beg Mackintosh, tenth chief of Clan Mackintosh, and on possession or association with lands in the Scottish Highlands. Alan Mackintosh was the first of Killachie and was followed by his eldest son, William Mor. William's sons John and Donald were involved in sixteenth-century Highland political and military affairs. John supported Matthew Stewart, fourth Earl of Lennox, against the Regent Arran and fought at Glasgow Muir in 1544. As John predeceased his father, Donald became the third of Killachie. Donald acted as tutor during the minority of Lachlan Mor Mackintosh, sixteenth chief of Clan Mackintosh, and was succeeded by his son Angus. Angus, fourth of Killachie, was known as Angus MacWilliam or Williamson and was regarded as a notable of Clan Chattan. He held or occupied property in the Inverness region and took part in agreements and disputes concerning neighboring Highland estates. He witnessed an agreement involving Calder and Mackintosh in 1581, helped arbitrate a boundary dispute between Calder and Kilravock, witnessed a bond involving Donald Gorme of Sleat in 1585, and subscribed to the Clan Chattan bond of union in 1609. His descendants included the Mackintoshes of Holm. Lachlan Mackintosh, fifth of Killachie, obtained Dalmigavie from Calder and was involved in the feud with James Stuart, third Earl of Moray, in 1624. His successor William acquired the feu of Killachie or Kyllochy from Moray and was ordered to assist in capturing Grant of Carron in 1630. William's family produced several later branches, while his eldest son Donald inherited Killachie. Donald, seventh of Killachie, appears in records from the Restoration period. He was appointed a Commissioner of Supply for Inverness-shire in 1678 and was named in official lists connected with bonds required from Highland families. His lands in Daviot, Dalarossie, and Dores were recorded on the 1691 Valuation Roll. The family also suffered a substantial fine under the post-Civil War indemnity legislation: the Killachie lairds were assessed £3,600 on lands valued at £594 in the relevant records. Angus, eighth of Killachie, served as a captain in Mackintosh's Jacobite battalion during the rising of 1715 and was captured at Preston. He later lived chiefly at Ardersier and died in 1727. His eldest son died unmarried, and the succession passed to Alexander, a London merchant. Alexander's son Angus became an officer in Keith's Highlanders, served in the Seven Years' War, and later joined Fraser's Highlanders for service in America. He died unmarried in South Carolina, after which the line passed to his brother John. John, eleventh of Killachie, was also a military officer. He was severely wounded at Fellinghausen in 1761, joined the 68th Regiment in 1765, and served for approximately two decades, including during the Great Siege of Gibraltar. His only son, James, became the twelfth of Killachie. James Mackintosh was born at Aldourie in 1765. Although he studied medicine and obtained a physician's diploma, he devoted himself to law and writing. After moving to London, he published Vindiciae Gallicae in 1791, defending the principles of the French Revolution against Edmund Burke. His Introductory Discourse on the Law of Nature and Nations, published in 1799, brought him further recognition. He developed a career as a lawyer, Whig politician, historian, and author, becoming the most famous member of the Killachie family. He sold the paternal estate in 1801. His son Robert James Mackintosh later became a Fellow of New College, Oxford, and edited his father's memoirs.
- 1801
James Mackintosh sells the family estate
[1]James Mackintosh parted with the paternal estate of Killachie.
- 1799
Publication of Introductory Discourse on the Law of Nature and Nations
[1]James Mackintosh published a legal and philosophical discourse that achieved considerable contemporary success and strengthened his reputation as a jurist and writer.
- 1791
Publication of Vindiciae Gallicae
[1]James Mackintosh published Vindiciae Gallicae, a defense of the principles of the French Revolution and a response to Edmund Burke.
- 1761
John is wounded at Fellinghausen
[1]John Mackintosh, later the eleventh of Killachie, was severely wounded at the Battle of Fellinghausen during the Seven Years' War.
- 1715
Angus supports the Jacobite rising
[1]Angus Mackintosh, eighth of Killachie, served as a captain in Mackintosh's Jacobite battalion and was captured at the Battle of Preston.
- 1678
Donald appointed Commissioner of Supply
[1]Donald Mackintosh, seventh of Killachie, was named a Commissioner of Supply for Inverness-shire and appeared in official lists concerning Highland family bonds.
- 1630
William acquires the feu of Killachie
[1]William Mackintosh, sixth of Killachie, acquired the feu of Killachie or Kyllochy from Lord Moray and was tasked with capturing Grant of Carron.
- 1624
Involvement in the Moray feud
[1]Lachlan Mackintosh, fifth of Killachie, was among the leaders involved in a feud with James Stuart, third Earl of Moray.
- 1609
Participation in the Clan Chattan bond of union
[1]Angus Mackintosh's name appears in the Clan Chattan bond of union, reflecting the family's place within the wider clan confederation.
- 1581
Angus witnesses a Calder–Mackintosh agreement
[1]Angus Mackintosh, fourth of Killachie, witnessed an agreement between Calder and the chief branch of Clan Mackintosh.
Products and positioning
A historical Highland noble family and senior cadet branch of Clan Mackintosh, defined by hereditary landholding, participation in Clan Chattan affairs, military service, and the public career of James Mackintosh.
Brand decisions
1801
Sale of the Killachie estateOtherBackground
James Mackintosh, twelfth of Killachie, was the family's best-known lawyer, writer, politician, and historian. During his tenure, he disposed of the family's paternal estate.
Action taken
He sold the Killachie estate.
Aftermath
The sale marked the end of the family's direct ownership of its paternal estate as described in the cited account.
Sources1 sources
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