IV.—GOLD MEDALISTS OF THE HIGHLAND SOCIETY OF LONDON.

In 1781, the Highland Society of London instituted competitions in pibroch playing. It was not, however, until 1835 that the gold medal now so well known as the highest honour attainable by pipers, was first awarded. The following is a list of the first prize winners and gold medalists so far as it has been found possible to obtain them. Unfortunately for the absolute authenticity of the list, the records of the Highland Society were lost in a fire sometime ago, and the secretary, therefore, could not supply them officially. It has, however, been carefully compiled from Angus Mac Kay’s book of pipe music, the files of the Glasgow Herald and those of the Inverness Courier, and it may be relied on as thoroughly accurate:—

1781 —Patrick Mac Gregor, Ardradour, Perthshire. 1782 —John Mac Allister, West Fencible Regiment. 1783 —Neil Mac Lean, Airds. 1784 —John Mac Gregor, senr., Fortingall. 1785 —Donald Mac Intyre, senr., Rannoch. 1786 —Roderick Mac Kay, North Berwick. 1787 —Archibald Mac Gregor, Glenlyon. 1788 —John Mac Gregor, Strathtay. 1789 —Duncan Mac Nab, Lorne. 1790 —Robert Mac Intyre. 1791 —Donald Mac Rae, Applecross. 1792 —John Mac Kay, Raasay. 1793 —John Mac Gregor, Breadalbane Fencibles. 1794 —Angus Cameron. 1795 —Peter Mac Gregor. 1796 —Donald Fisher, Breadalbane. 1797 —Alexander Mac Gregor, Glenlyon. 1798 —Donald Mac Earchar. 1799 —Dugald Mac Intyre. 1800 —George Graham.

[17]. In Chapter XIX., page [278], the date 1838 is given by mistake instead of 1835, as the year of this competition. Also, on page [284], it is stated that John Bane Mac Kenzie and Donald Cameron were the only players who held the title of “King of Pipers.” That there were at least two others is, however, shown by this list.

There is a blank between 1844 and 1859 which it has not been found possible to bridge. In 1844 we leave the competitions being held triennially at Edinburgh; in 1859 we find the Gold Medal being competed for at the Northern Meeting, Inverness, as “a new feature.” Several other competitions are reported during these fifteen years, and well-known names are given as prize-winners, but there is no mention of the Highland Society’s Gold Medal. It would be interesting to know if the competition was discontinued during these years.

1859 (First competition under auspices of Northern Meeting, Inverness)—Donald Cameron, piper to Seaforth.

1860—Alex. Mac Lennan, pipe-major, Inverness Militia.

1861—D. Mac Kenzie, 25th Borderers, Shorncliffe.

1862—Alex. Cameron, Greenock Rifle Volunteers.

1863—Ronald Mac Kenzie, 78th Highlanders.

1864—Alex. Mac Donald, piper to Mac Pherson of Glentruin.

1865—Colin Cameron, piper to Mr. Malcolm of Glenmarog.

1866—Wm. Mac Kinnon, 74th Highlanders, Limerick.

1867—John Mac Lennan, piper to the Earl of Fife. Donald Cameron, piper to Mr. K. W. S. Mac Kenzie, of Seaforth, was this year “Champion of Champions.”

1868—Andrew Gordon, piper to the Earl of Seafield, Balmacaan, Glen-Urquhart.

1869—Wm. Mac Donald, piper to the Prince of Wales.

1870—Alex. Cameron, piper to the Marquis of Huntly.

1871—Malcolm Mac Pherson, piper to Cluny Mac Pherson.

1872—Donald Mac Kay, piper to Sir George Mac Pherson Grant, Bart., of Ballindalloch.

1873—Duncan Mac Dougall, piper to the Earl of Breadalbane. Champion of Champions, Ronald Mac Kenzie, 78th Highlanders.

1874—John Smith, 93rd Highlanders, Lochgilphead.

1875—Ronald Mac Kenzie, piper to Neil Mac Donald of Dunach.

1876—John Mac Kenzie, Royal Caledonian Asylum, London. Champion of Champions, Duncan Mac Dougall, piper to the Earl of Breadalbane.

1877—John Mac Bean, piper to Lord Middleton.

1878—Lewis Grant, piper to the Earl of Seafield. 1879—William Mac Lennan, Dundee. 1880—John J. Connan, piper to John H. Dixon, Inveran. 1881—Angus Mac Rae, piper to Mr. E. H. Wood of Raasay. 1882—Angus Mac Donald. South Morar. 1883—A. D. Longair, 2nd A. and S. Highlanders. 1884—John Mac Coll, Oban. 1885—Pipe-Major J. Mac Dougall Gillies, Glasgow. 1886—R. Meldrum, 93rd Sutherland Highlanders. 1887—Alex. Fletcher, Invermoriston. 1888—William Boa, piper to Mr. Dixon of Inveran. 1889—John Mac Kay, 4th A. and S. Highlanders. 1890—John Mac Donald, Glentromie Lodge, Kingussie. 1891—Colin Thomson, 3rd Seaforth Highlanders. 1892—John Cameron, 2nd Cameron Highlanders. 1893—Pipe-Major Matheson, 3rd Highland Light Infantry. 1894—Pipe-Major D. Campbell, Scottish Rifles. 1895—Murdo Mac Kenzie, piper to Mr. A. G. Butter of Fascolly. 1896—Alec. Mac Kenzie, Resolis, Invergordon. 1897—Wm. Campbell, second piper to the Queen. 1898—Murdoch Mac Kenzie, Church Street, Inverness. 1899—D. C. Mather, Lochcarron. 1900—W. G. Meldrum, Moy Hall.

The Highland Society of London, have also, since 1875, presented a gold medal at the Argyllshire Gathering, to be competed for under the same conditions as that at the Northern Meeting. The two medals are of about equal value, and, though neither can be won twice by the same competitor, one piper may win both. The following are the prize winners at the Argyllshire Gathering, as kindly supplied by the secretary, Mr. Alexander Sharp, Oban:—

1875, Sept. 8.— John Mac Bean, Culloden.
1876, „ 13.— Malcolm Mac Pherson, Cluny.
1877, „ 12.— John Mac Bean, Culloden.
1878, „ 11.— William Mac Lennan, Inverness.
1879, „ 10.— George Mac Donald, South Morar.
1880, „ 15.— Pipe-Major Robert Mac Kinnon, Skipness.
1886, „ 8.— Pipe-Major Robert Meldrum, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
1887, „ 14.— Pipe-Major John Mac Kay, 4th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, Paisley.
1888, „ 12.— Kenneth Mac Donald, Braemar.
1889, „ 11.— John Mac Pherson, Cluny.
1890, „ 10.— Norman Mac Pherson, Loch Lomond.
1891, „ 9.— D. C. Mather, Loch Carron.
1892, „ 14.— A. R. Mac Coll, Oban.
1893, „ 13.— Pipe-Major Wm. Robb, 91st Highlanders.
1894, „ 12.— Pipe-Major George Ross, Black Watch.
1895, „ 11.— John Mac Kenzie, Glasgow.
1896, „ 9.— Gavin C. Mac Dougall, Aberfeldy.
1897, „ 8.— John Mac Donald, Kingussie.
1898, „ 14.— Farquhar Mac Rae, Glasgow.
1899, „ 13.— Murdo M’Kenzie, Inverness.
1900,
No Gathering.

From 1880 till 1886 no Medal was given.