Established at Inverness in 1788, the Northern Meeting
is known today for its annual piping competitions held in October.
However, few students of Highland history are aware that the purpose was
to promote "social intercourse" in the aftermath of the tragic events at
Culloden and the depressing conditions faced by those living in the north
during that era. Formed in the year that Prince Charlie died, it was
intended to bring together, for a week of social activities, the families
of the Northern Highlands, regardless of which side they had supported in
the 45 Rising.
In
The Northern Meeting 1788-1988, Lieutenant Colonel Angus Fairrie
has traced the fascinating history of the Society. Included are the names
of every winner of the Highland Society of London and Northern Meeting
pibroch competitions since 1781 and every member of the Northern Meeting
since its formation.
The Highland Society of London had been the driving
force behind the Repeal in 1782 of the Disarming Act of 1747, and the
subsequent revival of Highland dress and music. As public Highland Games
began to feature piping and dancing, it was inevitable that the Piping
competitions, in order to survive, would be transferred from Edinburgh to
Inverness. Col. Fairrie notes: "The links between the two societies were
already there. The 5th Duke of Richmond, who had succeeded to
the Presidency of the Highland Society of London in 1840, was already a
Patron of the Northern Meeting. The 16th Lord Saltoun, who had
been Permanent Steward of the Northern Meeting since 1818, also held the
office of President of the Highland Society in 1831; from office bearers
down, the membership of the two societies overlapped to a considerable
extent."
A prime mover in establishing the Northern Meeting was
the famous Jane Maxwell, 4th Duchess of Gordon (1749-1812)
whose son George, 5th Duke of Gordon (8th Marquis of
Huntly) served as a Patron and Permanent Steward from 1812 to 1836
"In
1853 the Northern Meeting lost a respected leader with the death of
Lieutenant General Lord Saltoun, KT. The Chief of the name of Fraser had
served with the 1st Foot Guards at Waterloo. He brought
invaluable continuity to the Northern Meeting over the years, while his
tact and wise moderation frequently restrained an impulsive committee from
precipitate action when feelings ran high. Luckily, in Lord Lovat there
was an eminently suitable replacement available to succeed him as
Permanent Steward."
The 79 original applicants for membership included most
of the land owners in the counties of Inverness, Ross, Elgin and Nairn, as
well as the Provost and Baillies of Inverness, and a number of lawyers,
doctors, bankers, merchants and excise men from the town. An early
resolution was that members should appear at the balls in their own
uniform which was specified as: "
a Grass Green Coat, with Buff Edging, A
White Metal Button, Black Velvet Cape with four Silver Embroidered or
Vellum Button Holes, Buff or Fancy Waistcoat, and Buff or Black Silk
Breeches. The Button to have the letters NM in Cypher." The uniform was
modeled on what the well-dressed man-about-town was wearing in the
Assembly Rooms of the south. Paradoxically the Highland Society of London
at the time was encouraging members to attend meetings in London dressed
in the full Highland kit whenever possible.
Counties
of Elgin and Nairn:
#1 His Grace The Duke of Gordon; #2 Sir James Grant of
Grant, Bart. (1738-1811); #3 James Brodie of Brodie; #4 Alexander Penrose
Cumming of Altyre; #5 Col. Hugh Grant of Moy; #6 Alexander Brodie, MP; #7
Miss (Anne) Brodie of Lethen; #8 Willing King of Newmiln; #9 Robert
Cumming of Logie; #10 William Brodie of Milltown; #11 Capt. George Brodie,
21st Regt; #12 Capt. Robert Innes, 21st Regt; #13
James MacGregor of Ballimore.
County of Inverness:
#14 The Hon. Archibald Fraser of Lovat (1736-1815)
County of Ross:
#56 Francis Humberston Mackenzie of Seaforth, MP
(1754-1815)
Frasers played a prominent role in the activities of
the Northern Meeting from the outset. The 16th [now 17th]
Lord Saltoun (1785-1853) assumed the role of Permanent Steward from 1818
to 1853, and was succeeded on his death by Thomas Alexander Fraser of
Strichen and Lovat (1802-75), who became 14th Lord Lovat in
1857, and served from 1853 to 1875. The first Convener from 1842 to 1845
was Affleck Fraser of Culduthel, who continued as Joint Convener with John
MacKenzie from 1845 to 1851. Major Charles Ian Fraser of Reelig served as
Convener from 1946 to 1951.
Of the original 79 subscribers in 1788, eight were
Frasers: #14 Hon. Archibald Fraser of Lovat (1736-1815), #20 James Fraser
of Belladrum (1732-1808), #21 James Fraser of Culduthel (1756-1816), #22
Edward S. Fraser of Reelig (1751-1835), #23 Lt. Col. Simon Fraser of
Bruiach (1738-1813), #24 Simon Fraser of Farraline (1754-1810), #27 Capt.
Simon Fraser of Fannellan (c1719-1793) and #32 Capt. Thomas Fraser of
Leadclune (1750-c1818).
From 1788 membership was by ballot of the existing
members, with an average of nine new admissions each year. Members
admitted from prominent Fraser families included the following:
1788 #82 Capt. Thomas Fraser of Dunballoch
(1758-1838); 1789 #93 John Fraser of Auchnagairn (1742-1825), #99
Alexander Fraser of Torbreck (1744-1821), #101 Simon Fraser, Younger of
Foyers (c1760-1842); 1790 #108 Mr. Fraser of Gortuleg (Gorthleck);
1792 #129 John Fraser of Ballindown (c1750-1798); 1793
#141 Mr. Hugh Fraser of Jamaica; 1798 #152 James Fraser, Younger
of Belladrum (1766-1834), #153 Col. Hugh Fraser of Knockie; 1799
#160 Simon Fraser, late of Dominica, #161 William Fraser of Culbokie
(1763-1843); 1800 #172 William Fraser-Tytler, Younger of Balnain
(1777-1853), #174 Hugh Fraser, Kingilly (1767- ? ); 1802 #182 Mr.
John Fraser, Wine Merchant in Inverness, #184 Simon Fraser of Demerara;
#186 John Fraser, Younger of Farraline, Advocate (c1780-1838); 1803
#191 Simon Fraser, Younger of Errogie (1773-1852); 1805 #200
Hugh Fraser of Eskadale (1765-1841); 1808 #213 Duncan Fraser of
Fingask (1756- ? ); 1809 #219 Alexander Fraser of Inchcoulter
(1759- ? ), #221 John Fraser, Banker, Inverness; 1812 #241 Hon.
William Fraser of Philorth (1791-1845), #243 Robert Fraser, Younger of
Torbreck (1782-1844); 1814 #248 Capt. Edward Fraser of Gortuleg
(1780-1827), #252 Lord Saltoun (1785-1853), #253 Charles Fraser of
Inverallochy & Castle Fraser (1792-1871); 1819 #286 Alexander
Fraser, at Phoineas; 1820 #296 Mr. Fraser of Abertarff
(1791-1884), #297 Affleck Fraser of Culduthel (1787-1862); 1822
#304 Thomas A. Fraser of Lovat (1802-1875); 1824 #313 Capt. J.
Fraser of Balnain (1792-1864); 1825 #326 James B. Fraser of
Gorthleck (1778-1831); 1832 Northern Meeting cancelled owing to
cholera outbreak; 1835 #349 Sir Hugh Fraser, Redcastle; 1837
#357 Hugh Fraser, Younger of Newton (1797-1843); 1845 #387
Captain Alexander Fraser; 1849 #404 Hon. Simon Fraser, Master of
Lovat (1828-1887); 1854 #415 John Fraser of Bunchrew (d. 1876);
1855 #420 Capt. (William) Fraser-Tytler of Balnain (1815-1878);
1858 #434 Lt. Col. Hon. Alexander Fraser, Scots Fusilier Guards;
1859 #435 William Fraser of Culbockie (1827-aft 1896); 1862
#445 Charles Fraser-Tytler of Burdsyards (1816-1881); 1865 #453
Rt. Hon. Lord Saltoun (1820-1886); 1868 #478 Mr. (Charles)
Fraser-Mackintosh of Drummond (1828-1901); 1874 #496 J. G.
Fraser, Merlewood, Inverness, #501 James Fraser of Reelig (1820-1888);
1877 #511 Capt. (John) Fraser of Balnain (1822-1892); 1879
#519 Hugh Fraser of Achnagairn (c1835- ? ); 1881 Affleck Fraser
of Reelig (1845-1918); 1882 #532 E. G. Fraser-Tytler of Aldourie
(1856- ? ); 1891 #579 Col. (Edmund Lomax) Fraser of Bunchrew;
1894 #586 Lord Lovat (1871-1933); 1903 #620 Sir Keith
Fraser, Bart., of Inverinate (1867-1935); 1908 #637 Mrs. Fraser
Mackenzie of Allangrange; 1914-1917 No members elected; 1919
#667 Major Neil Fraser-Tytler, DSO (1889-1937); 1920 #681 Major
James W. Fraser of Leckmelm (1862-1943); 1921 #692 Robert
Scarlett Fraser-MacKenzie of Bunchrew; 1924 #710 Charles Ian
Fraser of Reelig (1903-1963); 1925 #716 Hon. Mrs. Justice (Ethel
Mary) Fraser of Stromeferry (1864-1949); 1926 #723 Major Hon.
Alistair Fraser, DSO, of Moniack (1877-1949); 1933 #759 Col.
Henry Francis Fraser, CMG, DSO, Ballindarroch, Scaniport (1872-1949);
1938 #790 Lord Lovat (1911-1995); 1940-1944 No members
elected; 1947 #836 Lt. Col. Sir Kerr Fraser-Tytler KBE, CMG, MC
(1886-1963); 1950 #880 Sqn. Ldr. Alasdair Fraser (1905-1980);
1951 - #891 Malcolm Robert Fraser; #893 Major Alistair H. Fraser, MC
(1919-1986); 1956 #922 Major Hon. Hugh Charles Patrick Fraser,
MBE, MP (1918-1984); 1959 #952 Colin L.A. Fraser-Mackenzie;
1961 #974 Capt. A.A.A.D.M. Ramsay of Mar (1919-2000); 1962
#978 Hon. Simon Fraser, Master of Lovat (1939-1994); 1963 - #984
Euan H.A.E. Fraser; 1968 #1040 Col. James A. Fraser, MC
(1921-1999); 1969 #1050 Mrs. Hazel Fraser-Mackenzie; 1973
#1085 Alastair Fraser; 1974 #1099 P. J. Fraser; 1976
#1126 Leopold T. Fraser-Mackenzie; #1127 Simon O. Fraser-Mackenzie;
1979 #1152 Donald James Fraser; 1982 #1179 Lt. Col. Ian M.
Fraser OBE; #1180 Hon. K.I.M. Fraser; 1987 #1220 Christopher
Fraser.
The Northern Meeting also had an unofficial role as
match-maker. Wing Comd. Michael Constable Maxwell recalled: It was in the
mid 1860s that my grandmother and her mother Mrs Weld Blundell were asked
to join Lord and Lady Lovats party for the Northern Meeting.
Unfortunately, when the gentlemen went stalking after the Balls up at
Brawlen, Strathfarrar, the Master of Lovat found that he had sprained his
ankle and could not go with them. Instead of stalking, he and Alice Weld
Blundell attended Mass at Eskadale and then walked back four miles through
rough wooded country, and by the time they got home they were engaged. And
my grandfathers sprained ankle was better too!"
