Sir Alexander Matheson, 1st Baronet
Sir Alexander Matheson, 1st Baronet,
Life and career
Having retired from trade in 1839 he made a land deal purchasing the Ardintoul estate, with more land acquired at Inverinate on
In 1851 he added to his local status as an MP by purchasing the feudal barony of Lochalsh, which had remained dormant since 1427. The estate comprised lands on the left bank of
By 1862, Matheson was Chairman of the Northern Railway, making it the largest in the Highlands. He joined up with Joseph Mitchell to extend the line to Dingwall, the directors dispensing with his services by 1867. The line finally opened on 1 August 1870. During the following decades Matheson evicted tenants from his more fertile Easter Ross estates. Riots broke out at Plockton, on one occasion resulting in ten arrests. Matheson posted extra guards on the Highland Railway sacking all his employees involved in the protests. By 1893, largely through Sir Alexander's influence the Kyle had replaced Plockton as the district's administrative centre.[5]
He supported William Ewart Gladstone's remarkable Midlothian campaign, but remained critical of Munro-Ferguson's utterances on Home Rule for Scotland.
As Chairman of the Dingwall and Skye railway he effected a merger with the Highland railway on 2 August 1880. The result was that his concern held sway over the network across the highlands from Inverness to the sea at Skye.
Family
Matheson married three times: His first marriage was to Mary, only daughter of J.C. Macleod Esq., of Geanses in 1840. His second marriage in 1853 was to the Hon. Lavinia Mary, daughter of Thomas Stapleton, by Mary Gerard, and sister of 8th Lord Beaumont, they had a son and daughter.
Kenneth James 2nd baronet of Lochalsh (1854–1920) and Mary Isabella (1855–1933)
Thirdly he married Eleanor Irving, daughter of
- Flora Matheson ( -1927)
- Hylda Nora Grace Matheson (1870–1902)
- Anna Elizabeth (1864–1927)
- Sir Alexander Perceval Matheson of Lochalsh, 3rd baronet(1861–1929)
- Sir Roderick Mackenzie Chisholm Matheson of Lochalsh, 4th baronet (1861–1944)
- George Charles Matheson (1867–1870)
- Eleanor Margaret Matheson (1868–1896)
- Gen. Sir Torquil George Matheson of Lochalsh, 5th baronet (1871–1963).[9]
Legacy
History has adjudged Sir Alexander and his uncle,
Matheson died on 27 July 1886, aged 81.
Notes
- ^ "Sir Alexander Matheson from the Gazetteer for Scotland".
- ^ William Anderson, The Scottish Nation: Or the Surnames, Families, Literature ..., Volume 3.
- ^ Iain Fraser Grigor, Highland Resistance: The Radical Tradition in the Scottish North
- ^ A.Clark (2011) 'Pomegranates, opium, and poppycock', Northern History corresp. 107, cites Ewen A. Cameron (2010) 'Scotland's Global Impact' vol.1, issue 1, p.3-11.
- ^ Alister Farquhar Matheson, Scotland's Northwest Frontier: A Forgotten British Borderland, Troubadour publishing, 2014
- ^ H.A. Vallance, Highland Railways, David & Charles, London, 2nd ed., 1963
- ^ "No. 25106". The London Gazette. 12 May 1882. p. 2221.
- ^ "Publications catalogue | British History Online".
- ^ Mosley, C , ed, "Burke's Peerage, baronetage and knightage", 107th ed., 3 vols, London (2003).
References
- Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage New York: St Martin's Press, 1990,
- Leigh Rayment's list of baronets
- Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs
- leighrayment.com[usurped]