There seems to have been a fashion and mild trade in 'other ranks' equivalents to 'portraits'. They are all very crude from the artistic point of view but most attractive and of course, of some historical interest, as they were obviously acceptable to the people who had them done. The addition of the family appears to be a feature of this particular type. They all look as though the same person could have done them but as they cover different regiments at widely separate places, this is most doubtful.

      Depicted on the right is PRIVATE JOHN MACPHERSON, 5th Company 1st. Royal Scots, born near Inverness. In a letter to his parents he says he got the 'likeness' done locally and hopes to be home soon, etc. He was a 'short service' man and unfortunately the Records of short service men were lost in a fire many years ago. Depicted on the left is PRIVATE JOHN MACPHERSON, born in Badenoch. He enlisted into the 93rd Highlanders at Edinburgh on the twenty-seventh day of October 1807 at the age of eighteen years for unlimited service. He was discharged from the service on 5th October 1826, in consequence of wounds received at New Orleans on 8th January 1815.

      The members of the two families shown of 1818 are as follows (L-R):
           Ellen Macpherson, wife of
           John Macpherson of Inverness, Pvt Royal Scots
           Lily Macpherson, wife of
           John Macpherson of Badenoch, Pvt 93rd Rgt
           Alexander, son
           Ann, daughter

The Inscription reads: "I wish in person for to be, as near my lover as can be"

      The above particulars have been extracted from a photostat copy of the official Discharge Certificate held in the Clan Macpherson Museum Archives. We are grateful to Mr ME Taylor, C St. J, FSA (Scot), Ardlea, 11, Horselehill Road, Glasgow for researching the subject.