Patrick Sellar
Encyclopedia
Patrick Sellar was a Scottish lawyer who is notorious for his role in the Highland Clearances
.
Born into a wealthy family in Moray
in 1780 and died in Elgin
in 1851. He is buried in Elgin Cathedral
. His last will and testament can be accessed on the Scotland's People website http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/content/help/index.aspx?r=546&1164
of the Duke of Sutherland
, in 1809 to assist with the "improvement" of the Duke's lands. "Improvement" was the term used by landlords to describe the introduction of new farming systems to their property, which usually resulted in the expulsion of existing tenants. His tactics led to him standing trial at Inverness
for culpable homicide
when he presided over the burning of a croft
in Strathnaver
which still contained an old woman who refused to leave. He was acquitted after there was found to be little evidence of his direct involvement. He was most prolific in the area of Strathnaver and presided over the "improvements" of much of the Highlands, becoming a successful sheep farmer and one of the largest landowners in the area around the lands he had cleared for the Duke.
He had a number of children with his wife Ann Craig of Barmakelty including
His grandson was the humourist W. C. Sellar
who wrote the book 1066 and All That
.
Highland Clearances
The Highland Clearances were forced displacements of the population of the Scottish Highlands during the 18th and 19th centuries. They led to mass emigration to the sea coast, the Scottish Lowlands, and the North American colonies...
.
Born into a wealthy family in Moray
Moray
Moray is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. It lies in the north-east of the country, with coastline on the Moray Firth, and borders the council areas of Aberdeenshire and Highland.- History :...
in 1780 and died in Elgin
Elgin, Moray
Elgin is a former cathedral city and Royal Burgh in Moray, Scotland. It is the administrative and commercial centre for Moray. The town originated to the south of the River Lossie on the higher ground above the flood plain. Elgin is first documented in the Cartulary of Moray in 1190...
in 1851. He is buried in Elgin Cathedral
Elgin Cathedral
Elgin Cathedral, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, sometimes referred to as The Lantern of the North is a historic ruin in Elgin, Moray, north-east Scotland. It was established in 1224 on an area of ground granted by Alexander II that was close to the River Lossie and outside of the burgh of...
. His last will and testament can be accessed on the Scotland's People website http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/content/help/index.aspx?r=546&1164
Highland clearances
Patrick Sellar was a lawyer, hired as the factorFactor (Scotland)
In Scotland a factor is a person or firm charged with superintending or managing properties and estates -- sometimes where the owner or landlord is unable to or uninterested in attending to such details personally, or in tenements in which several owners of individual flats contribute to the...
of the Duke of Sutherland
Duke of Sutherland
Duke of Sutherland, derived from Sutherland in Scotland, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom held by the head of the Leveson-Gower family. It was created by William IV in 1833 for George Leveson-Gower, 2nd Marquess of Stafford...
, in 1809 to assist with the "improvement" of the Duke's lands. "Improvement" was the term used by landlords to describe the introduction of new farming systems to their property, which usually resulted in the expulsion of existing tenants. His tactics led to him standing trial at 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...
for culpable homicide
Homicide
Homicide refers to the act of a human killing another human. Murder, for example, is a type of homicide. It can also describe a person who has committed such an act, though this use is rare in modern English...
when he presided over the burning of a croft
Croft (land)
A croft is a fenced or enclosed area of land, usually small and arable with a crofter's dwelling thereon. A crofter is one who has tenure and use of the land, typically as a tenant farmer.- Etymology :...
in Strathnaver
Strathnaver
Strathnaver or Strath Naver is the fertile strath of the River Naver, a famous salmon river that flows from Loch Naver to the north coast of Scotland...
which still contained an old woman who refused to leave. He was acquitted after there was found to be little evidence of his direct involvement. He was most prolific in the area of Strathnaver and presided over the "improvements" of much of the Highlands, becoming a successful sheep farmer and one of the largest landowners in the area around the lands he had cleared for the Duke.
He had a number of children with his wife Ann Craig of Barmakelty including
- Alexander Craig SellarAlexander Craig SellarAlexander Craig Sellar was a Scottish lawyer and Liberal politician.Sellar was the son of Patrick Sellar of Westfield, Morayshire and his wife Ann Craig of Barmakelty, Moray. He was educated at Rugby School, and at Balliol College, Oxford where he was a favoured student of Benjamin Jowett...
MP (17 October 1835 - 16 Jan 1890) was a Scottish lawyer and Liberal politician. - William Young SellarWilliam Young SellarWilliam Young Sellar was a Scottish classical scholar.Sellar was born at Morvich, Sutherland, the son of Patrick Sellar of Westfield, Morayshire and his wife Ann Craig of Barmakelty, Moray. He was educated at the Edinburgh Academy and afterwards at the University of Glasgow. He entered Balliol...
(22 February 1825 – 12 October 1890) was a Scottish classical scholar
His grandson was the humourist W. C. Sellar
W. C. Sellar
Walter Carruthers Sellar was a Scottish humourist who wrote for Punch. He is best known for the 1930 book 1066 and All That, a tongue-in-cheek guide to "all the history you can remember," which he wrote together with R. J...
who wrote the book 1066 and All That
1066 and All That
1066 and All That: A Memorable History of England, comprising all the parts you can remember, including 103 Good Things, 5 Bad Kings and 2 Genuine Dates is a tongue-in-cheek reworking of the history of England. Written by W. C. Sellar and R. J. Yeatman and illustrated by John Reynolds, it first...
.
See also
- Highland clearancesHighland ClearancesThe Highland Clearances were forced displacements of the population of the Scottish Highlands during the 18th and 19th centuries. They led to mass emigration to the sea coast, the Scottish Lowlands, and the North American colonies...
- John PrebbleJohn PrebbleJohn Edward Curtis Prebble, FRSL, OBE was an English/Canadian journalist, novelist, documentarian and historian. He is best known for his studies of Scottish history.-Early life:...