The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-09
IyTEREsTIN0 HISTORY.
The Hon. Dan Lamont ComesFro" GREAT
Historic Clan OF scotland.


Colonel Lamont's name properly pro-
nounced simply suggests what IL u.s. tha'
OF one OF the Oldest clans IL the h1gn-
lands OF Scotland. The Lannon'S were
lords OF Cowal long before the Camp
bells set their feet upon its sod. They
owned the soil when Alexander ii. raised
Argyll into a Sherffdom in l22l. AlthoIgh
never at any time a very large one the
clan was well represented among the hills
and valleys OF Cowal and the shores and
cottages OF Butte. History relates mat
during the invasion of Cowal by the
conuuering Campbels their leader IN
vited a number OF gentlemen OF the clnn
Lamont to a banquet. and basely ana
with a treachery scarcely paralieled III
the annals Of Highland warfare, slew
them IN cold blood. Although the great
MacCallum Nor reigns In Argyn; the chlei
of the ancient family OF Lamont stlii
holds his own. and amid the relics or
former greatness supports the honor or
his clan The name OF Lamont Is per-
petuated among the geographical land
marks OF the district Arid Lamont IS
familiar 10 mariners as the Null or can
tyre and Butte has its Lamont Point
and It's Kerry Lamont. Lannon'S are
still 10 be found in Cowal and Butte as
thick as ofice-seekers In the United
States and there IS not the slightest
danger Of their being mistaken IN the
Highlands. at all events elther loi
Yankees or Frenchmen.
During the reign OF terror which marx
"a the conouering march Of the more pow
erful Campbells. a small party or La
monts. aided by a daughter or niece OF
the chieftain. 20 whom they were related
emierated TO the island OF Viva where
they found friends among the brave ana
warm-hearted MacQuarries. The graves
OF generations of Ulva Lannon'S are SUN
10 be seen on the lonely aisle OF Gometra'
which may be called an annex OF iva.
One OF the last Of the Viva Lannon'S,
Angus by name. took up his abode IN
early life in the sacred island OF Iona.
During the first part Of the present
century he acted under the patronage or
the Duke OF Argyll. as a custodian or
the ruins During the Queens visit 10 the
Highlands in lS4S he was pronounced by
Prince Albert the handsomest Highlander
he had met. and the graces OF his person
were only surpassed by the courtliness
Of his manners and the elevated tone and
culture OF his mind. He was Gaelic
poet OF n high order and as Celtic
scholar versed I'm the traditionary lore
OF the Western Hebrides had few equals.
Colonel Lamont comes Of an old and
honored race of Butte MacLaumans, and
his ancestors for many generations lie
sleeping in the old hrkyards OF Fort
Bannatyne and Rothesay. Had any igno-
rant Sassenach or New York reporter
dared 10 tell the Colonels great-great-
grandfather that he was OF French eX-
traction and that his proper name was
Lamont. the indignant descendant Of the
Rorys would have perforated his low
country stomach with his skein-dhu, md
ordered his piper TO play a pibroch over
his remains The name is pronounced by
English-speaking Highanders Lahmont
with the accent on the first syllable.
Lammont or Lawman. The Gaelic name
is MacLauman. pronounced Machk Lei
man, ecu" having sound similar 70
that OF the past participie or the trench
verb "avoir"-to have
The Lannon'S are said TO have sprung
from the ancestors OF clan Rory, now ex-
tlnct the great Somerlid. and the more
sanity Albanian. This clan was classi-
fed by the late Mr. Skene. OF Edinburgh
acknowledged 10 be the highest authority
upon clanship Of his day. as first among
the Siol Quinn. descendants Of Conn Of
a hundred battles, the most ancient family
Of clans In the Highlands In the Siol
Quinn stood shoulder 70 shoulder the Mac
Rorys, the MacDonalds, and the MacDou-
gals. Mr. Skene placed the Lannon'S In
the third grand division or family, that
Of Siol Eachern. Sol Gillevrav. including
the clans Nell. Lachlan and Evan. hold
Ing the second place. In the Siol Eachern
were but two clans-the Lannon'S and
the Campbells Of Craignish originally
MacEacherns The Lannon'S in the brave
days Of old were MacErachers. They
took the surname OF Lamont from their
ancestor Laumanus. grandson Of Duncan
MacEracher. who granted the lands Of