Notable and Notorious Buchanans
Information about important persons throughout history in the Clan Buchanan, from recent to relics. Click on a name for more information
If you have any inquiries and/or would like to contribute, especially those of the affiliated families/septs, please use the contact form to provide us with the details/references.
Jessica Watson OAM
Australian youth sailor, Young Australian of the Year, Order of Australia Medal and Author
1993 -
Alan Ross McWhirter and Norris Dewar McWhirter CBE (twins)
Cofounders of the Guinness Book of Records and television presenters.
1925 – 1975 & 1925 – 2004 respectively
Bohannon
Percussionist, band leader, songwriter, arranger, and record producer: one of the leading figures in 1970s disco music.
1942 - 2020
Big Bob Gibson
… and more notably: Big Bob Gibsons Barbecue restaurant, sauces, rubs and recipe books in Alabama, USA
1925 –
Mickey Rooney
born Ninnian Joseph Yule Jr.
American actor, comedian, producer, radio entertainer and vaudevillian.
1920 – 2014
William Edgar Buchanan II
American actor: from Petticoat Junction, Green Acres and The Beverly Hillbillies.
1903 – 1979
Herbert Dow & Dow Chemicals
Canadian-born American chemical industrialist, best known as the founder of Dow Chemical.
1866 – 1930
DowChemicals est. 1897
Charles Dow & the Dow Jones index
American journalist, co-founder of Dow Jones & Company: the Dow Jones
1851 – 1902
DowJones est. 1884
Robert Williams Buchanan
British poet, novelist and dramatist. Son of Robert Buchanan (1813—1866)
1841 – 1901
Buchanan Log House
James Buchanan (1763-1841) built this two-story single pen log house with hall and parlor plan circa 1807.
Dr Andrew Buchanan
Surgeon, Regius Professor of the Institutes of Medicine, University of Glasgow
1798 - 1882
Francis Buchanan-Hamilton of Spittal
Physician, geographer, zoologist and botanist. Chiefly contender
1762 – 1829
Honorary Buchanans
While these prominent Scots were definitely not of Clan Buchanan, they greatly influenced our clan.
Sir Walter Scott
Scottish historian, novelist, poet, and playwright
1771 - 1832
In the 1790s, a young student known to the family as “Wattie” (AKA acclaimed author Sir Walter Scott), used to stay Cambusmore (current Clan Seat) in his summer holidays with his best friend John James Edmonstone, a nephew of John Buchanan (our chief’s direct ancestor).
By his own written account in his Biography, Wattie said that he enjoyed spending many hours at Cambusmore listening to John Buchanan of Arnprior, recalling his very many Buchanan ancestors’ achievements and history. This included the events of the ’45 and the earlier Jacobite battles and many skirmishes that the family were personally involved with.
Fortunately, many of these stories were written down in a wee book that we still have at Cambusmore. Unsurprisingly, many of these oral histories appeared to have found their way into many of his most famous ‘fictional’ works, such as “The Lady of the Lake”. Indeed, the heroine of which appears to have been based on Helen Buchanan, one of John’s daughters, as she was the one who first showed him the local lake featured, known as Loch Katerine.
Rob Roy MacGregor
Outlaw and folk hero
1671 - 1734
Rob Roy MacGregor was Christened and Married on Buchanan Lands; in the Parish of Buchanan! SOURCE
Rob Roy MacGregor became a clan leader and, in 1701, acquired land on Loch Lomond and at Balquidder, where he prospered as a legitimate cattle dealer.
A business transaction with the Duke of Montrose turned sour when one of his men absconded with the duke's money. An order was issued for Rob Roy's arrest, and he was evicted from his Loch Lomond land by the duke's factor.
He led the MacGregors during the Jacobite Rising of 1715 and was accused of high treason. Government mercenaries burned his house.
He was eventually forced to submit to General Wade in 1725 but was granted a Royal Pardon in 1727. He died peacefully in his own bed at Balquidder in 1734 and was buried at the Balquhidder Parish Church.
Robert the Bruce
King of Scotland
1274 – 1329
The Bruce was the 4th GrandFather of Isobel Stewart: second wife of the 12th Chief of Buchanan, Sir Walter Buchanan SOURCE
Robert the Bruce is revered as a national hero in Scotland, establishing the nation as an independent Kingdom after the Battle of Bannockburn.
He was King of Scotland from 1306 until his death in 1329.
He descended from Anglo-Norman and Gaelic nobility, growing up to become one of the finest warriors of his time.
Through his grandfather Robert de Brus, 5th Lord of Annandale, Robert was the Earl of Carrick and supported his family's claim to the Scottish throne.
He joined William Wallace's rebellion against the English King Edward I and was later appointed one of three Guardians of Scotland.
But he resigned in 1300, falling out with another Guardian, John III Comyn, and John Balliol was restored to the Scottish throne.
After years of accepting English rule over Scotland, in February 1306 Robert killed Comyn after an argument.
He then moved quickly to dispatch his rivals and seize power and was crowned King of Scots on March 25, 1306.
Whilst we’re confident in the connection to clan Buchanan of the above;
we need to do a bit more research on the connection to our Septs for the people below…
Orville Gibson & Gibson Guitars
One of the most notable electric Guitar companies
1856 – 1918
Gibson EST. 1884 –
Debbie Gibson
American singer-songwriter, pianist, record producer and actress
1970 –
Peter Weir
Film director
1944 –
Thomas Watson
English, Nonconformist, Puritan preacher and author.
1620 – 1686
Bobby Watson
Saxophonist, composer, and educator.
1953 –
Ben Harper
American singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.
1969 –
Charlie Watts
Drummer for the Rolling Stones
1941 - 2021
Merrick Watts
Australian Comedian, Presenter, Broadcaster and Corporate Speaker. Part of the comedy duo "Merrick and Rosso"
1973 –
And we’re pretty sure these guys are NOT Buchanans, despite their penchant for the Modern Buchanan Tartan
Humphrey B. Bear
We know he’s not a Buchanan, but he does wear the tartan
Childrens’ television series, on Adelaide Australia’s Chanel 9, 1965 - 2003
Humphrey has been recognised as an icon of Australian television and is featured in the Australian National Museum.
He became the only bear in the world to become a cub scout when he was initiated into the Scouting Movement.
The Chicago Stockyard Kilty Band
Formed in 1921, they are the the oldest continuously meeting pipe band in the United States.
Although founded by two Scots, the band has evolved now and become full-blown American in every way.
And they’ve always showcased the Buchanan tartan.
Lee Thompson
from the UK Ska Group “Madness”
Whom notably wore the Buchanan Modern tartan at the Queens 2012 Jubilee concert when performing on top of Buckingham palace.
Nicholas Lowry
From the US PBS TV show “Antiques Roadshow”
K-9
Robotic “canine” (get it?) companion of Doctor Who, first introduced in 1977. There have been at least four separate K9 units in the series, but they all appear to wear a Buchanan Collar.
Graeme Garden of The Goodies
The Goodies were British sketches and situation comedy comedy series shown in the 1970s and early 1980s, broadcast by the BBC.
The series basic structure revolved around the trio, always short of money, offering themselves for hire – with the tagline "We Do Anything, Anytime, Anywhere" and many of the sketches revolved around reverting to their historic culture, with Graham being Scottish - always donning Buchanan Modern.
Pooter the Clown from Uncle Buck
Mike Star featured as Pooter the Clown in the 1989 film "Uncle Buck", by John Hughs. Featuring John Candy and Macaulay Culkin, Pooter the Clown was clearly having a bad day, but not because of his choice in attire.
Photo: Courtesy of Universal Pictures