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This name is derived from the
lands of Strachan, or Strathachen, in Kincardineshire. Strath is derived
from the Gaelic, 'srath', meaning broad mountain valley. In 1200 Walderus de
Stratheihen made a grant of lands to the church of St Andrews.
John, son of Rudolph de Strachane, gifted
lands to the Abbey of Dunfermline which was confirmed by a charter of
Alexander III in 1278.
The barony of Strachan and the lands of
Feteresso passed to the family of Keith from the Strachans by marriage, in
the reign of David II, but Sir James Strachan of Monboddo obtained the lands
of Thornton in Kincardine. He had 2 sons the elder, Duncan, took the lands
of Monboddo, while the younger had the lands of Thornton. Sir Alexander
Strachan of Thornton was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia by Charles I in
1625.
The baronetcy passed in to the senior line of
Monboddo by a charter under the great seal in 1663.
During the Napoleonic Wars, Admiral Sir
Richard Strachan, 6th baronet, commanded a squadron. On 2 November 1805 his
squadron engaged four French battleships that had escaped from Lord Nelsons
triumph at the Battle of Trafalgar. Sir Richard captured all four French
vessels with little loss of British life. He was created a Knight of the
Bath and in 1810 was granted freedom of the City of London.
The title became dormant in 1854. |
