Flora Macdonald's Grave, Skye

Flora Macdonald's Grave, Skye

ID: HC_PLANNING_03_030_0736 DESCRIPTION: The memorial to Flora Macdonald is in the graveyard at Kilmuir in the north of Skye. She was born in South Uist in 1722. Her father died soon after she was born, her mother remarried and Flora was brought up by a Clanranald family. She was educated in Edinburgh. While visiting her brother in South Uist in 1746, she assisted in smuggling Charles Edward Stuart, Bonnie Prince Charlie, dressed as her maid 'Betty Burke', over to Skye. Flora Macdonald was arrested for her involvement and sent to the Tower of London, but was released shortly after due to the 1747 Act of Indemnity. After a time spent in North Carolina, where her husband was imprisoned, they re-established themselves and their family at Kingsburgh, Skye. Flora died in 1790, and a memorial was first built at Kilmuir in 1871. This blew down in 1879, but a new cross was erected in 1880 and refurbished in 1882. The epitaph on the memorial, written by Dr Johnson, reads "A name that will be mentioned in history, and if courage and fidelity be virtues, mentioned with honour" PLACENAME: Kilmuir DISTRICT: Skye OLD COUNTY/PARISH: INVERNESS: Duirinish CREATOR (AV): T. Kenneth MacKenzie PERIOD: 1970s SOURCE: The Highland Council Planning Department COLLECTION: The Highland Council Planning Dept Asset ID: 14608 KEYWORDS: