Donald Monro (Dean)
Encyclopedia
Donald Monro (fl.c.1550-1575) was a Scottish clergyman, who wrote an early and historically valuable description of the Hebrides
and other Scottish islands and enjoyed the honorific title of “Dean of the Isles”.
, by Janet, daughter of Farquhar Maclean of Dochgarroch. His father was a grandson of George Munro, 10th Baron of Foulis
(Chief of the Clan Munro
).
Monro must initially have been a Roman Catholic, but following the Scottish Reformation
in 1560 he adhered to the Presbyterian
Church of Scotland
. At some point between 1560 and 1563 he was appointed as parson of Kiltearn and he was also minister at Alness
and Lemlair. In 1563, he witnessed a charter, styling himself “Archdeacon of the Isles”, and in the same year he was appointed by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
to act as Commissioner of Ross
. Notwithstanding some criticism in 1570 of his ability in Gaelic, his commission was extended from time to time until 1575, when a successor was appointed.
He is traditionally said to have lived at Castle Craig
and to have crossed the Cromarty Firth
to perform his duties at Kiltearn.
The date of his death is unknown, but he had died by 1589, when his cousin Robert Munro was parson of Kiltearn.
Hebrides
The Hebrides comprise a widespread and diverse archipelago off the west coast of Scotland. There are two main groups: the Inner and Outer Hebrides. These islands have a long history of occupation dating back to the Mesolithic and the culture of the residents has been affected by the successive...
and other Scottish islands and enjoyed the honorific title of “Dean of the Isles”.
Origins
Monro was the eldest son of Alexander Monro of KiltearnKiltearn
Kiltearn is a parish in Ross and Cromarty, Scotland. The principal settlement is the village of Evanton, and the parish extends almost to Dingwall and about halfway to Alness. The old Kiltearn church and burial ground are on the shore of the Cromarty Firth. The current church is on the main...
, by Janet, daughter of Farquhar Maclean of Dochgarroch. His father was a grandson of George Munro, 10th Baron of Foulis
George Munro, 10th Baron of Foulis
George Munro of Foulis is traditionally the 10th Baron and 13th successive chief of the Clan Munro. However he is only the third successive chief of the clan who can be proved by contemporary evidence...
(Chief of the Clan Munro
Clan Munro
-Origins:The main traditional origin of the clan is that the Munros came from Ireland and settled in Scotland in the 11th century and that they fought as mercenary soldiers under the Earl of Ross who defeated Viking invaders in Rosshire...
).
Career
Monro was nominated to the Archdeaconry of the Isles in or shortly after 1549. In that year, he visited most of the islands on the West coast of Scotland and wrote a manuscript account of them, which was first published in 1774, together with his brief genealogical account of various branches of Clan Macdonald.Monro must initially have been a Roman Catholic, but following the Scottish Reformation
Scottish Reformation
The Scottish Reformation was Scotland's formal break with the Papacy in 1560, and the events surrounding this. It was part of the wider European Protestant Reformation; and in Scotland's case culminated ecclesiastically in the re-establishment of the church along Reformed lines, and politically in...
in 1560 he adhered to the Presbyterian
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
. At some point between 1560 and 1563 he was appointed as parson of Kiltearn and he was also minister at Alness
Alness
Alness is a town and civil parish in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland. It lies near the Cromarty Firth, with the town of Invergordon to the east and the village of Evanton to the south west...
and Lemlair. In 1563, he witnessed a charter, styling himself “Archdeacon of the Isles”, and in the same year he was appointed by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the sovereign and highest court of the Church of Scotland, and is thus the Church's governing body[1] An Introduction to Practice and Procedure in the Church of Scotland, A Gordon McGillivray, 2nd Edition .-Church courts:As a Presbyterian church,...
to act as Commissioner of Ross
Ross-shire
Ross-shire is an area in the Highland Council Area in Scotland. The name is now used as a geographic or cultural term, equivalent to Ross. Until 1889 the term denoted a county of Scotland, also known as the County of Ross...
. Notwithstanding some criticism in 1570 of his ability in Gaelic, his commission was extended from time to time until 1575, when a successor was appointed.
He is traditionally said to have lived at Castle Craig
Castlecraig
Castlecraig, also known as Craig Castle and Castle Craig, is a 16th-century fortification located on the north shore of the Black Isle in northern Scotland. It is on the south coast of the Cromarty Firth, north-east of Culbokie and north of the city of Inverness...
and to have crossed the Cromarty Firth
Cromarty Firth
The Cromarty Firth of Cromarty') is an arm of the North Sea in Scotland. It is the middle of the three sea lochs at the head of the Moray Firth: to the north lies the Dornoch Firth, and to the south the Beauly Firth....
to perform his duties at Kiltearn.
The date of his death is unknown, but he had died by 1589, when his cousin Robert Munro was parson of Kiltearn.
External links
- Description of the Western Isles of Scotland (William Auld, Edinburgh, 1774)