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|chiefs gaelic title=
|chiefs gaelic title=
|seat = Monzie Castle, [[Crieff]]<ref name="clanchiefs.org"/>
|seat = Monzie Castle, [[Crieff]]<ref name="clanchiefs.org"/>
|historic seat =
|historic seat = [[Crichton Castle]]
|septs =
|septs =
|branches = Crichtons of Frendraught
|branches = Crichtons of Frendraught
|Allied clans =
|Allied clans =
|Rival clans =
|Rival clans = [[Clan Sempill]]<br>[[Clan Douglas]]
}}
}}
'''Clan Crichton''' is a [[Scottish Lowlands|Lowland]] [[Scottish clan]].
'''Clan Crichton''' is a [[Scottish Lowlands|Lowland]] [[Scottish clan]].<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Crichton">Way, George and Squire, Romily. ''Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia''. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, The [[Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs]]). Published in 1994. Pages 114 - 115.</ref>


==Clan history==
==History==
===Origins of the clan===


One of the earliest baronies around [[Edinburgh]] was formed from the lands of ''[[Crichton, Midlothian|Kreitton]]'' and is mentioned in charters of the early 12th century.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Crichton"/> In 1128 Thurstan de Crechtune witnessed the foundation of [[Holyrood Abbey]] by [[David I of Scotland]].<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Crichton"/> Thurstan's son, Thomas de Crichton is listed on the [[Ragman Rolls]] of 1296, swearing fealty to [[Edward I of England]].<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Crichton"/> Thomas's three sons each extended the family's holdings.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Crichton"/> The second son, William, married Isobel de Ross who was the heiress to the barony of Sanquhar in [[Dumfriesshire]].<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Crichton"/>
The lands of ''[[Crichton, Midlothian|Kreitton]]'' formed one of the earliest baronies around [[Edinburgh]] and are mentioned in charters of the early 12th century.


===Early Crichtons===
===15th and 16th centuries===


⚫
In 1464 Sir Robert Crichton of Sanquhar was sheriff of the county of Dumfries.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Crichton"/> From 1468 to 1469 he was also Coroner of [[Nithsdale]].<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Crichton"/> In 1487 his eldest son, Robert Crichton, was created a peer with the title [[Earl of Dumfries|Lord Crichton of Sanquhar]] by [[James III of Scotland]].<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Crichton"/>
Thurstan de Cechtune was a witness to the foundation of the [[Holyrood Abbey]] by King [[David I of Scotland]] in 1128. Thomas de Crichton swore fealty to King [[Edward I of England]] in the Ragman Roll of 1296. Thomas had three sons each of whom extended the family holdings. His second son William Crichton married Isabel de [[Clan Ross|Ross]] who was heiress to the barony of Sanquhar in [[Dumfrieshire]].


Another descendant of Thomas de Crichton was [[William Crichton, 1st Lord Crichton|Sir William Crichton]] who in 1439 was appointed to the office of Chancellor of Scotland, during the minority of [[James II of Scotland]].<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Crichton"/> Crichton organised the infamous ''black dinner'' at [[Edinburgh Castle]] of which he was constable.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Crichton"/> The [[Earl of Douglas]] and his brother were invited as guests of honour to a royal banquet at the castle, where King James was in residence.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Crichton"/> After the dinner the two Douglases were dragged from the boy king's presence and executed on Castle Hill.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Crichton"/> The [[Clan Douglas]] were never slow to take revenge and laid siege to the castle.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Crichton"/> However Crichton surrendered the castle to the king and a truce was declared.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Crichton"/> However the Douglases would go on to make an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate Crichton.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Crichton"/> Crichton was later given the title [[Lord Crichton]].<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Crichton"/>
===15th century & clan conflicts===


The second Lord Crichton obtained the barony of Frendraught in Banffshire through marriage.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Crichton"/> The third Lord Crichton sided with the [[Duke of Albany]] in his rebellion against his own brother, [[James III of Scotland]].<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Crichton"/> Crichton garrisoned [[Crichton Castle]] against the king however the rebellion failed and as a result the Crichton estates were forfeited for treason.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Crichton"/>
⚫
A descendant of his Robert de Crichton of Sanquhar was sheriff of Dumfries in 1464 and coroner of [[Nithsdale]] from 1468 to 1469. His eldest son Robert Crichton was created a peer with Lord Crichton of Sanquhar by King [[James III of Scotland]] in 1487.


In about 1552, William Crichton, third Lord Sanquhar was killed in the house of the [[James Hamilton, Duke of Châtellerault|Regent Arran]], by [[Lord Sempill]] (chief of [[Clan Sempill]]).<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Crichton"/> The sixth Lord Sanquhar died a disgrace having been accused of being involved in the murder of a [[fencing]] master who had blinded Crichton in one eye years before.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Crichton"/>
Another descendant of Thomas de Crichton was [[William Crichton, 1st Lord Crichton|Sir William Crichton]] who was also the [[Chancellor of Scotland]] during the minority of King [[James II of Scotland]]. Following the death of his rival the [[William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas]], Sir William Crichton organised the infamous '''Black Dinner''' at [[Edinburgh Castle]] which he was also governor of at the time. The young King James was in residence and the new Earl of Douglas and his brother were invited to dine at the royal banquet. After dinner the two Douglases were dragged out to Castle Hill and executed. The [[Clan Douglas|Douglases]] then laid siege to Edinburgh Castle. Crichton perceiving the danger surrendered the castle to the King and was raised to the title of Lord Crichton.


[[James Crichton]] is perhaps the most celebrated member of the Clan Crichton.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Crichton"/> He is known in history as the 'Admirable Crichton' due to his superb mental and physical prowess.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Crichton"/> He is said to have mastered all of the knowledge of his time and been able to speak and write in ten different languages, all by the age of twenty.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Crichton"/> He was also a feared swordsman.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Crichton"/> James Crichton studied at the [[University of St Andrews]] then travelled to [[Paris]] where he challenged professors of the city to dispute with him on any branch of science or literature, and offering to answer in any of his ten languages.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Crichton"/> The following day he was declared champion at a public [[Jousting|joust]].<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Crichton"/> However in 1582 Crichton was set upon by a gang, of which he killed five of the attackers.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Crichton"/> When he turned to the sixth member of the gang - the gang leader, Crichton saw that it was one of his own students and dropped his guard whereupon he was stabbed in the heart.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Crichton"/>
The 2nd Lord Crichton obtained through marriage the barony Frendraught in [[Banffshire]]. The third Lord Crichton joined the [[Duke of Albany]] in his rebellion against his royal brother King James III of Scotland which culminated in the [[Battle of Harlaw]] in 1411.


===16th century & clan conflicts===
===17th century and Civil War===


During the [[Scotland in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms|Civil War]] another [[James Crichton, 1st Viscount Frendraught]] supported the royalist [[James Graham, 1st Marqis of Montrose]].<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Crichton"/> Crichton was present at Montrose's defeat at the [[Battle of Carbisdale]] (also known as the Battle of Invercarron) in 1650.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Crichton"/> It is said that Crichton gave his horse to Montrose so that he could escape.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Crichton"/> Crichton was taken prisoner.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Crichton"/>
In 1571 Clan Crichton took the side of [[Clan Forbes]] in their long feud against [[Clan Gordon]]. By 1571 the feud had got to the point where other clans began taking sides. Other opponents of the Gordons such as [[Clan Keith]] and [[Clan Fraser]] also joined forces with Clan Forbes. However the [[Clan Leslie]], [[Clan Irvine]] and [[Clan Seton]] who had their own feuds with the Forbeses joined forces with Clan Gordon. The feud culminated in two full scale battles in 1571; The [[Battle of Tillieangus]] and the [[Battle of Craibstone]].


===Modern hostory===
1582, Perhaps the most celebrated Crichton was James who lived within the reign of both Queen Mary and King James VI. He was also a superb equestrian, a feared swordsman and accomplished in all social graces. It is claimed that 50 doctors put questions to him of mind bending complexity which he answered with ease and the next day he attended a public joust and became champion of the field. At a carnival in 1582 Crichton was set upon by a gang of masked bandits who discovered that his reputation was not vanity. He promptly killed 5 of his attackers and turned to dispatch the 6th on discovering that his opponent was none other than his young pupil, Vincenzo, he dropped his guard and Vincenzo stabbed him in the heart.

===17th century & Civil War===

During the Civil War Clan Crichton supported the [[Cavalier|Royalist]] James [[Clan Graham|Graham]] the [[James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose|1st Marquess of Montrose]]. The Clan Cricton fought at the [[Battle of Invercarron]]. It is said that Chief Frendraught Crichton gave his horse to Montrose during the battle so he could evade capture. Crichton was taken prisoner but, considering the fate of Montrose, was probably fortunate that he died of his wounds before he met a similar end.

===Present===
The [[Double-barrelled name|double-barrelled]] surname originates from the fact that the chiefs are direct descendants of the [[Clan Maitland|Maitland family]], the [[Earl of Lauderdale|Earls of Lauderdale]], and [[Clan Makgill]]. [[Royal Navy]] Captain [[Frederick Lewis Maitland (Royal Navy captain)|Frederick Maitland]] married Margaret Dick. Dick's grandmother was an heiress of [[Clan Makgill]] of Rankeilour and a descendant of [[James Crichton, 1st Viscount Frendraught]] of Clan Crichton through inter-marriage. One of their direct descendants Charles established his right to the chiefship and was recognised by a [[Court of the Lord Lyon|Lyon Court]] decree in 1980.<ref>{{citenews|title=Banking on the good name of the family|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19820531&id=YcpAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uaUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6373,5795722|publisher=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]] (archived on [[Google News]])|date=31 May 1982}}</ref><ref>{{citebook|title=Debrett's peerage & baronetage|publisher=[[Debrett's]]|date=2008|page=836}}</ref>
The [[Double-barrelled name|double-barrelled]] surname originates from the fact that the chiefs are direct descendants of the [[Clan Maitland|Maitland family]], the [[Earl of Lauderdale|Earls of Lauderdale]], and [[Clan Makgill]]. [[Royal Navy]] Captain [[Frederick Lewis Maitland (Royal Navy captain)|Frederick Maitland]] married Margaret Dick. Dick's grandmother was an heiress of [[Clan Makgill]] of Rankeilour and a descendant of [[James Crichton, 1st Viscount Frendraught]] of Clan Crichton through inter-marriage. One of their direct descendants Charles established his right to the chiefship and was recognised by a [[Court of the Lord Lyon|Lyon Court]] decree in 1980.<ref>{{citenews|title=Banking on the good name of the family|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19820531&id=YcpAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uaUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6373,5795722|publisher=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]] (archived on [[Google News]])|date=31 May 1982}}</ref><ref>{{citebook|title=Debrett's peerage & baronetage|publisher=[[Debrett's]]|date=2008|page=836}}</ref>


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==See also==
==See also==
*[[Lord Crichton]]
*[[Lord Crichton]]
*[[Earl of Dumfries]]
*[[Scottish clan]]
*[[Creighton (disambiguation)]], an alternative spelling of the surname
*[[Creighton (disambiguation)]], an alternative spelling of the surname


Revision as of 14:02, 7 September 2013

Clan Crichton
MottoGod send grace
Profile
RegionLowlands
Chief
David Crichton of that Ilk[1]
Chief of clan Crichton, The Crichton of that Ilk
SeatMonzie Castle, Crieff[1]
Historic seatCrichton Castle
Clan branches
Crichtons of Frendraught
Rival clans

Clan Crichton is a Lowland Scottish clan.[2]

History

Origins of the clan

One of the earliest baronies around Edinburgh was formed from the lands of Kreitton and is mentioned in charters of the early 12th century.[2] In 1128 Thurstan de Crechtune witnessed the foundation of Holyrood Abbey by David I of Scotland.[2] Thurstan's son, Thomas de Crichton is listed on the Ragman Rolls of 1296, swearing fealty to Edward I of England.[2] Thomas's three sons each extended the family's holdings.[2] The second son, William, married Isobel de Ross who was the heiress to the barony of Sanquhar in Dumfriesshire.[2]

15th and 16th centuries

In 1464 Sir Robert Crichton of Sanquhar was sheriff of the county of Dumfries.[2] From 1468 to 1469 he was also Coroner of Nithsdale.[2] In 1487 his eldest son, Robert Crichton, was created a peer with the title Lord Crichton of Sanquhar by James III of Scotland.[2]

Another descendant of Thomas de Crichton was Sir William Crichton who in 1439 was appointed to the office of Chancellor of Scotland, during the minority of James II of Scotland.[2] Crichton organised the infamous black dinner at Edinburgh Castle of which he was constable.[2] The Earl of Douglas and his brother were invited as guests of honour to a royal banquet at the castle, where King James was in residence.[2] After the dinner the two Douglases were dragged from the boy king's presence and executed on Castle Hill.[2] The Clan Douglas were never slow to take revenge and laid siege to the castle.[2] However Crichton surrendered the castle to the king and a truce was declared.[2] However the Douglases would go on to make an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate Crichton.[2] Crichton was later given the title Lord Crichton.[2]

The second Lord Crichton obtained the barony of Frendraught in Banffshire through marriage.[2] The third Lord Crichton sided with the Duke of Albany in his rebellion against his own brother, James III of Scotland.[2] Crichton garrisoned Crichton Castle against the king however the rebellion failed and as a result the Crichton estates were forfeited for treason.[2]

In about 1552, William Crichton, third Lord Sanquhar was killed in the house of the Regent Arran, by Lord Sempill (chief of Clan Sempill).[2] The sixth Lord Sanquhar died a disgrace having been accused of being involved in the murder of a fencing master who had blinded Crichton in one eye years before.[2]

James Crichton is perhaps the most celebrated member of the Clan Crichton.[2] He is known in history as the 'Admirable Crichton' due to his superb mental and physical prowess.[2] He is said to have mastered all of the knowledge of his time and been able to speak and write in ten different languages, all by the age of twenty.[2] He was also a feared swordsman.[2] James Crichton studied at the University of St Andrews then travelled to Paris where he challenged professors of the city to dispute with him on any branch of science or literature, and offering to answer in any of his ten languages.[2] The following day he was declared champion at a public joust.[2] However in 1582 Crichton was set upon by a gang, of which he killed five of the attackers.[2] When he turned to the sixth member of the gang - the gang leader, Crichton saw that it was one of his own students and dropped his guard whereupon he was stabbed in the heart.[2]

17th century and Civil War

During the Civil War another James Crichton, 1st Viscount Frendraught supported the royalist James Graham, 1st Marqis of Montrose.[2] Crichton was present at Montrose's defeat at the Battle of Carbisdale (also known as the Battle of Invercarron) in 1650.[2] It is said that Crichton gave his horse to Montrose so that he could escape.[2] Crichton was taken prisoner.[2]

Modern hostory

The double-barrelled surname originates from the fact that the chiefs are direct descendants of the Maitland family, the Earls of Lauderdale, and Clan Makgill. Royal Navy Captain Frederick Maitland married Margaret Dick. Dick's grandmother was an heiress of Clan Makgill of Rankeilour and a descendant of James Crichton, 1st Viscount Frendraught of Clan Crichton through inter-marriage. One of their direct descendants Charles established his right to the chiefship and was recognised by a Lyon Court decree in 1980.[3][4]

Members of the extended Maitland-Makgill-Crichton family include distinguished military officers, many of whom served in the various Scottish regiments during both World Wars.[5]

Clan Chiefs

Incomplete list

  • Charles Maitland-Makgill-Crichton (1942-1992)[6]
  • David Maitland-Makgill-Crichton (b. 1972)[7]

Clan castles

References

  1. ^ a b clanchiefs.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah Way, George and Squire, Romily. Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs). Published in 1994. Pages 114 - 115.
  3. ^ "Banking on the good name of the family". The Herald (archived on Google News). 31 May 1982.
  4. ^ Debrett's peerage & baronetage. Debrett's. 2008. p. 836.
  5. ^ "Edward Mait­land-Makgill-Crichton; Soldier and businessman". The Herald. 9 February 2010. {{cite news}}: soft hyphen character in |title= at position 12 (help)
  6. ^ "Charles Maitland Makgill Crichton". Burke's Peerage (courtesy of thepeerage.com). {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ "THE YOUNG CHIEFTAINS WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO KEEP ALIVE AN OLD SCOTS TRADITION; Come on, come on ... I'm the leader of the clan, I am!". The Herald (courtesy of thefreelibrary.com). 20 July 1997.

External links

See also

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Clan_Crichton&oldid=571917020"