Taillear Dubh na Tuaighe
| Donald Cameron | |
|---|---|
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| Born | about 1550 |
| Other names | Black Taylor of the Axe (Gaelic: Taillear Dubh na Tuaighe) |
| Known for | Chieftain of the Taylor sept of Clan Cameron |
Donald Cameron (born c. 1550; also known as Black Taylor of the Axe; Scottish Gaelic Taillear Dubh na Tuaighe) lived in the Scottish Highlands during the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots. Born illegitimate, his father was Ewen Cameron of Lochiel, 14th chief of Clan Cameron, and his mother was the daughter of the chief of Clan MacDougall. Donald Cameron is claimed as the eponymous ancestor of the Taylor sept of Clan Cameron. He is alluded to in the coat of arms of the chief of Clan Cameron, as a likeness of him appears as the supporters holding a Lochaber axe.
After Donald's birth, Ewen kept his son, and had him nursed by a tailor's wife at Lundavra in Lochaber ("Cameron country"). There, as an infant, Donald received the nickname An Taillear Dubh (an, a diminutive; Taillear, an occupational reference to the caretaker's husband; Dubh, translated as "black" in the context of meaning "swarthy" or "dark tempered").
Ewen died in captivity in 1553, prisoner of the chief of Clan MacDougall who was holding Ewen captive until such time as he agreed to marry the chief's daughter. Acknowledgement of Donald's parentage did not suffice according to laws of hereditary succession, the consequence being that Ewen, an unmarried man, died without "legitimate issue". The title of 15th chief of Clan Cameron passed instead to Ewen's younger brother, Donald Cameron of Lochiel. As for property, Donald did not inherit his father's lands, as Queen Mary – unhappy with Ewen's fighting history and lack of obedience towards her summons – granted all of Ewen's lands to George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly.
Donald was raised by Corunan MacLachlans, the earliest cadet branch of Strathlachlan to leave Cowal, and hereditary standard-bearers to Cameron of Lochiel. Corunan was located midway between Fort William and Corran of Ardgour in Lochaber, and it was here that Donald developed skills with the fighting weapon of his area, the Lochaber axe, using it when Camerons battled.
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