John MacLeod
Chieftain of the island of Lewis
About John MacLeod
John MacLeod (Scottish Gaelic: Iain MacLeòid) was chieftain of the Isle of Lewis in the 1520s and 1530s. He is mentioned in 1528.
Clan ancestry John was the son of Torquil MacLeod, the deposed chief of Clan MacLeod of Lewis, whom the king had forfeited in 1506. John's uncle Malcolm had managed to reacquire the ancestral island. Malcolm's death, and the minority of his son Rory, enabled John to seize the entire island of Lewes and its dominions.
Legacy John was the chief ally of Domhnall 'gruamach', laird of Sleat. They warred against the MacLeods of Harris and Dunvegan. Together they expelled the MacLeods from Trotternish and prevented them from taking possession of Sleat and North Uist.
Family John's daughter and heiress married Domhnall 'gorme' of Sleat, the son and successor of Domhnall 'gruamach'.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
Frequently asked questions
Who was John MacLeod?
Chieftain of the island of Lewis
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: John MacLeod (clan chief)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John MacLeod. https://biography.guide/john-macleod-2/
MLA: "John MacLeod." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-macleod-2/.
Chicago: "John MacLeod." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-macleod-2/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:15 UTC