George MacFarlane

George MacFarlane was born in 1788 to Andrew MacFarlane, 2nd Laird of Auchrossan, and his wife Jean. Auchrossan is just south of Kilfinan, on the Cowal peninsula in Western Scotland. At some time during his life, possibly before his father's death in 1825, George became the 3rd Laird of Auchrossan.

On 13th June 1805, George was commissioned in the 57th (or the West Middlesex) Regiment of Foot[3]. After just eight months as an Ensign, he was raised to Lieutenant on 6th February 1806[3].  In 1810 he was serving under Wellington in the Peninsular war, and on 22nd June wrote a letter home to his father from Portalegre, Portugal, before the assault on Albuquerque in Spain[1]. George and his brother Alexander are also believed to have served at the battle of Waterloo on 18th June 1815[1]. On 20th July 1815, George was raised to the rank of Captain[3]. Within a year, on 25th February 1816, a large number of officers from the 57th, including George and his brother Alexander, were transferred to the half-pay list (i.e. reserved but not retired), presumably as a result of the ending of the Napoleonic wars by the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo[3].

.	Acharossan House as it is today.	.

George was the natural father to sons Wellington in 1820 and Norman in 1823, and daughter Jean in 1824[8]. The fact that George was the father seems to have been no secret, as his name was recorded in the birth and baptism records, and the children were all named McFarlane. The latter two births were not recorded until 1828, when the two children were baptised. There appears to have been some confusion over the birth dates, as Jean's was changed in the register from 1823 to 1824, and the month was also changed[8].

A Gaelic song, "The Captain of Acharossan", is said to have been written about George.

George died on 27th October 1827 at the age of 39. He was unmarried, and the estate passed to his younger brother Alexander, the 4th Laird. His memorial was placed on the wall of Kilfinan church, inscribed "GEORGE MACFARLANE Esq. of Auchrossan, Capt. 57th Regt. of Infantry 21.10.1827 age 39, brother Robert M., commander of the Funchal of Greenock 2.2.1826 age 24." The tablet was displaced after 1973, and has now been returned to the vault but is largely illegible.[2].

A codicil dated June 1827 to the will of George MacFarlane, Captain George's uncle, "late of Largimore, now residing at Crossbank, Govan", leaves money to Captain George's three natural children[1].  There was a tablet at Kilfinan church "Erected to the Memory of GEORGE McFARLANE of Largiemore who died on the 14th January MDCCCXXVIII" (1828)[2]. Largiemore is on the shore of Loch Fyne, about 5 miles North of Kilfinan.

Sources: [1]MacFarlane family records; [2]Friends of Kilfinan; [3]the Army Lists (National Archive); [4]Regiments.org; [8]daughter's birth record;

Page last updated 03 January 2008