OLD CLUNY'S SWORD

      On the 11th January 1883 at a grand dinner held at the Caledonian Hotel, Inverness, the Earl of Dunmore, Lieutenant Colonel commanding the Inverness-shire Highland Rifle Volunteers, entertained approximately 50 officers of the Battalion. A number of guests were present including Lord Lovat, the Earl of Seafield, Sir Kenneth Mackenzie of Gairloch, Sir George Macpherson-Grant of Ballindalloch, MP and Col Ewan Henry Davidson Macpherson, later Chief of the Clan. The occasion was to recognise the considerable contribution that Ewen Macpherson of Cluny, CB, Chief of the Clan Macpherson, known affectionately as 'Old Cluny', had made towards the Inverness-shire Highland Rifle Volunteers that he had been in command of from its inception over 20 years before. On retiring the command, Old Cluny was appointed Honorary Colonel of the Volunteers and at this dinner he was presented with this sword of "elegant workmanship" to mark the occasion.

      It is believed that the sword was sold on the 3rd May 1943 when the contents of Cluny Castle were auctioned. Nothing more was heard of Old Cluny's Sword until it appeared for sale in an advertisement by an antique dealer in 'arms' in Texas, USA, in 2000. An appeal was then organised on the Clan Macpherson website on the Internet in order to raise funds to purchase the sword. The enthusiasm and generosity of world-wide Clan Macpherson Association members resulted in the successful purchase of Old Cluny's Sword. This was the first occasion anything from that line of the Clan Chief had been purchased for the Clan since the auction in 1943, and also the first time that the medium of the Internet has been used by the Clan for such a venture.

       Before proceeding to Panel 28 (the large silver candelabrum directly behind you) and the several panels that make up the Victoriana section, you have the opportunity to visit the Macpherson Heraldry Section which you enter from your right.