Sir Alan Cameron of Erracht

Lieutenant-General Sir Alan Cameron of Erracht (1753 – 9 March 1828) was a Scottish British Army officer who, at his own expense in 1793, raised the 79th Regiment of Foot (Cameron Highlanders).

Background

Born near Banavie in Lochaber in 1753, Cameron of Erracht was the eldest son of Donald Cameron of Erracht and Marjorie, daughter of MacLean of Drimmin, who was killed at the Battle of Culloden. It was not until he was 4 years old that he first met his father. Aged 16, he killed someone in a duel and as a result was forced to join volunteers proceeding to North America.

Military career

Described as being of "Herculean build" and bearing a "fiery but chivalrous disposition",

After war was declared with revolutionary France in 1793, Cameron raised the 79th Regiment of Foot and was accepted as its colonel (although his army rank still appears to be no more than major at this point). Erracht was unusual in that every other Highland regiment was raised by Clan Chiefs, while he was merely chieftain of a cadet branch (albeit a senior branch) of the Cameron clan, led by Lochiel. In the 1790s a rift occurred with "the rogue" Lochiel over the borrowing and evictions of Cameron lands, including Erracht, leading to a period of enmity between the two. Nevertheless, he would acquire great influence and respect in the glens of Lochaber. When the 95th Rifles were added to make up his brigade in late 1808: "On hearing that our four companies were to be put under his command, this gallant but eccentric old chieftain declared, 'he did not want a parcel of riflemen, as he already had a thousand Highlanders, who would face the devil.' Had our corps been raised northward of the Tweed, it is more probable that our brigadier would have set a higher value on us; but we were moved to another brigade before he had an opportunity of judging of the merits or demerits of the Southerners in the field".

Cameron became a Knight of the Bath in 1815 and was promoted to lieutenant-general in 1819. He died in London in March 1828.