Charles Fraser-Mackintosh
Encyclopedia
Charles Fraser-Mackintosh (Scottish Gaelic: Teàrlach Friseal Mac An Toisich) (1828 - 25 January 1901) was a Scottish lawyer, land developer, author and Liberal
and Crofters Party politician. He was a significant champion of the Scottish Gaelic language
in Victorian
Britain.
Fraser-Mackintosh was the son of Alexander Fraser, of Dochnalurg, Inverness
and his wife Marjory Mackintosh. He assumed the additional surname of Mackintosh by royal licence 1857. He trained as a lawyer and became a councillor in Inverness. He was heavily involved in land and development in the town and was chairman of the Anglo-American Land Mortgage and Agency Co. Using money he made from the construction of Union Street, he bought and laid out the Drummond and Ballifeary estates in the 1860s. Fraser-Mackintosh was also a captain in the Inverness-shire Rifle Volunteers and a J.P.
for Inverness-shire. As a lawyer, he had access to many rare manuscripts and documents, and these formed the basis for his own published works on Scottish history. He was a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland
. In 1875, he was Chief of the Gaelic society of Inverness.
Fraser-Mackintosh was elected Member of Parliament
(MP) for Inverness Burghs
in 1874
and held the seat until the 1885 general election
, when he was returned as the MP for Inverness-shire
for the Crofter's Party He was returned unopposed in 1886
, but then joined the Liberal Unionist Party
, and lost the support of the local Highland Land League
, who backed the Liberal Party
candidate Donald MacGregor at the 1892 election
, unseating Fraser-Macknintosh. He was the only Gaelic-speaking member of the Commons and became known as the 'Member for the Highlands'. He was the driving force behind the establishment of the Crofters' Commission
and for promoting the use of Gaelic in Highland schools. His efforts led to the establishment of a Free Library in Inverness in 1883.
Fraser-Mackintosh died at the age of 72.
Fraser-Mackintosh married Eveline May Holland of Brooklands, Streatham in 1876. His widow left his personal library of over 5000 books and journals to Inverness Burgh library in 1921.
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
and Crofters Party politician. He was a significant champion of the Scottish Gaelic language
Scottish Gaelic language
Scottish Gaelic is a Celtic language native to Scotland. A member of the Goidelic branch of the Celtic languages, Scottish Gaelic, like Modern Irish and Manx, developed out of Middle Irish, and thus descends ultimately from Primitive Irish....
in Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
Britain.
Fraser-Mackintosh was the son of Alexander Fraser, of Dochnalurg, Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
and his wife Marjory Mackintosh. He assumed the additional surname of Mackintosh by royal licence 1857. He trained as a lawyer and became a councillor in Inverness. He was heavily involved in land and development in the town and was chairman of the Anglo-American Land Mortgage and Agency Co. Using money he made from the construction of Union Street, he bought and laid out the Drummond and Ballifeary estates in the 1860s. Fraser-Mackintosh was also a captain in the Inverness-shire Rifle Volunteers and a J.P.
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for Inverness-shire. As a lawyer, he had access to many rare manuscripts and documents, and these formed the basis for his own published works on Scottish history. He was a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland
Society of Antiquaries of Scotland
The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland is the senior antiquarian body in Scotland, with its headquarters in the National Museum, Chambers Street, Edinburgh...
. In 1875, he was Chief of the Gaelic society of Inverness.
Fraser-Mackintosh was elected Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Inverness Burghs
Inverness Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)
Inverness Burghs was a district of burghs constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1708 to 1801 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1918...
in 1874
United Kingdom general election, 1874
-Seats summary:-References:* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher *...
and held the seat until the 1885 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1885
-Seats summary:-See also:*List of MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1885*Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885–1918*Representation of the People Act 1884*Redistribution of Seats Act 1885-References:...
, when he was returned as the MP for Inverness-shire
Inverness-shire (UK Parliament constituency)
Inverness-shire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1708 to 1801 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 until 1918....
for the Crofter's Party He was returned unopposed in 1886
United Kingdom general election, 1886
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the UK general election, 1886*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
, but then joined the Liberal Unionist Party
Liberal Unionist Party
The Liberal Unionist Party was a British political party that was formed in 1886 by a faction that broke away from the Liberal Party. Led by Lord Hartington and Joseph Chamberlain, the party formed a political alliance with the Conservative Party in opposition to Irish Home Rule...
, and lost the support of the local Highland Land League
Highland Land League
The first Highland Land League emerged as a distinct political force in Scotland during the 1880s, with its power base in the country's Highlands and Islands. It was known also as the Highland Land Law Reform Association and the Crofters' Party...
, who backed the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
candidate Donald MacGregor at the 1892 election
United Kingdom general election, 1892
The 1892 United Kingdom general election was held from 4 July to 26 July 1892. It saw the Conservatives, led by Lord Salisbury, win the greatest number of seats, but not enough for an overall majority as William Ewart Gladstone's Liberals won many more seats than in the 1886 general election...
, unseating Fraser-Macknintosh. He was the only Gaelic-speaking member of the Commons and became known as the 'Member for the Highlands'. He was the driving force behind the establishment of the Crofters' Commission
Napier Commission
The Napier Commission, officially the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Condition of Crofters and Cottars in the Highlands and Islands was a royal commission and public inquiry into the condition of crofters and cottars in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.The commission was appointed in...
and for promoting the use of Gaelic in Highland schools. His efforts led to the establishment of a Free Library in Inverness in 1883.
Fraser-Mackintosh died at the age of 72.
Fraser-Mackintosh married Eveline May Holland of Brooklands, Streatham in 1876. His widow left his personal library of over 5000 books and journals to Inverness Burgh library in 1921.
Publications
- Dunachton, past and present 1866
- Letters of Two Centuries 1890
- The Last Macdonalds of Isla 1895
- An account of the confederation of clan Chattan 1898
- Antiquarian notes 1897,