Jamie Macpherson

James Macpherson (–1700) was a Scottish outlaw, famed for his lament before execution. He grew up a talented swordsman and fiddle player, then became leader of a gang of robbers. He was arrested in Keith and died in Banff. The lament was rewritten by Robert Burns as McPherson's Farewell.

Early life James Macpherson was born the illegitimate son of a Clan Macpherson laird from Invereshie, Inverness-shire and a woman who was either Romani or a Traveller.

Outlaw MacPherson grew up a talented swordsman and fiddle player, who formed a gang which robbed the rich lairds of the Province of Moray and gave to the poor, making him a Robin Hood figure. Macpherson was captured in Aberdeen then managed to escape from prison with the help of his family.

After an aggressive confrontation in September 1700 with Duff's men at the St Rufus Fair in Keith, Macpherson fled but fell over a gravestone and was detained. He was taken to Banff for trial under the 1609 act with three other outlaws; he was found guilty alongside his comrade James Gordon and both were sentenced to death by hanging.

Death and legacy

Whilst awaiting execution, Macpherson composed his Rant which he performed when he was taken to the gallows at the mercat cross on 16 November 1700. This lament inspired Robert Burns to write the famous poem McPherson’s Farewell.

Macpherson's fame grew after J. G. Phillips released a sympathetic biography in 1894 entitled James MacPherson: The Highland freebooter. His smashed fiddle is on display at the museum of Clan Macpherson in Newtonmore, near Kingussie. His claymore and targe were held at Duff House in Banff, now his sword is also in Newtonmore. In Banff he is remembered by the name of the Broken Fiddle cafe.