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Lieutenant Colonel Sir Alexander Fergus Matheson of Matheson, 8th Baronet of Lochalsh and 28th Chief of the Clan, succeeded to the baronetcy and to the chiefship on the death of his father on 27th January 2017. He was born on 26th August 1954, the only son of Major Sir Fergus and The Hon Lady Matheson. His father had succeeded in 1993, following his elder brother, Torquhil, who in 1975 had succeeded to the chiefship by tanistry on the death of Colonel Bertram Matheson of Matheson MC, 25th Chief and last of the Bennetsfield branch of the Clan.
Sir Alexander was born at Birdsall in Yorkshire, the home of his mother's family. He was educated at Sunningdale School, Eton College and Durham University. He followed his father, grandfather, three uncles, three first cousins and both godfathers into the Coldstream Guards in which he served as a regular officer from 1973 - 2001, seeing service in England, Northern Ireland, Cyprus, The Gambia, Belize, France, Germany and Hungary. From 2001 - 2005 he was the Executive Director of the British Schools Exploring Society, and from 2005 - 2014 he was Secretary, Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood at St James's Palace, being appointed a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order in 2013. Since 2015 he has been a Gentleman Usher to HM The Queen.
In 1983 he married Katharine, only daughter of Sir Michael Oswald GCVO and The Lady Angela Oswald CVO. Katharine has been a lecturer at law since 1987. They divide their time unequally between Berkshire and the Isle of Skye, and have three children: Andrew, Archie and Louisa.
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Thank you for visiting us! Here are a few of the more notable sites, currently on the world wide web, that we would like to recommend. Just click on any of the links below, to access a site. If you know of any others that you feel are worthy of a mention, please get in touch.
Wikipedia
To join the Society, you need to contact your nearest global branch, where the relevant officer or secretary will be able to provide you with further instructions.
Each branch has its own overheads and costs, so fees may well vary from one to another. Please contact your nearest global branch for further details.
If you would like to become involved in the Clan DNA Project, please see the "Genealogy" topic elsewhere on this page where there is a lot of useful information. As noted there, we are unable at the moment to provide clear advice on the best choice of test.
Each branch publishes details of forthcoming events on its own website, or you can contact your branch directly for further information. International gatherings are usually well publicised and will also be featured on this, the main international site.
The Clan Society Newsletter is published annually, and some branches may issue their own Branch Newsletters on a more regular basis. Clan Newsletters are only available to paid-up members of their Branch. To obtain a copy of current or past editions, please contact your Branch Secretary.
If you are an existing member, you can obtain a copy of the 'Extended Genealogy of the Clan Chiefs'. This document, which has been produced by our Clan Genealogist Mr John Faid, is an extensive and meticulously prepared insight into the genealogical structure of the Clan Chiefs.
For further details please see the genealogy page listed under the History menu.
The septs of Clan Matheson are MacMath, MacPhun and Mathie.
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We recognize that user privacy over the internet is of the utmost importance. The following information explains how and why we collect data and what the practices of this website are, when using such data. If you have any questions or concerns regarding our privacy policy, please email our Clan Webmaster. If you prefer, you can write to us at the following address: The Old Rectory, Hedenham, Norfolk. NR35 2LD. United Kingdom.
Identifying InformationIn general, you can browse through our website without telling us who you are, or providing us with any information about yourself. However, there are one or two exceptions, such as when you send us an email. In such instances, we only retain the information that's needed, to enable us to provide a service to our members. Any identifying information gathered, is kept in the strictest of confidence and only for as long as it is required. Thereafter it is securely erased.
What Happens To Your Information?If you choose to submit personal information, it is retained by the Society and will only be used to support us in assisting you. We will not add you to any mailing lists or newsletters, and will only contact you if further information is required for us to take care of your needs. We do not share, rent, or sell any personally identifying information provided through our website (such as your name or email address), to any outside organization for its own marketing purposes.
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Changes To This PolicyWe may, from time to time, revise our privacy policy. You should therefore periodically visit this page, so you are aware of any such changes. We will not, however, use your existing information in a manner not previously disclosed. You will be advised and have the opportunity to opt out of, any new use of your information.
We've greatly simplified our site by cutting down on the number of unnecessary pages and incorporating some of those retained within our new multi-topic pages, so that you can now access a wealth of information from just a handful of locations. The site has been re-designed with the objective of making it more of a portal to the global branches and a central point of reference to all. Set out below, is an overview of the layout.
Home: Main index page of the website Membership: General information on membership Branches: Links to global branch websites and/or contact details History: Multi-topic page with a wealth of historical information Genealogy: Multi-topic page in the History drop-down menu with a wealth of genealogical information Information: Multi-topic page featuring the following topics
There are three main emblems of the clan. The first is the Chief's Crest. The crest is a hand, holding a scimitar, emerging from a five-pointed crown; the correct heraldic description of this is "issuant from an eastern crown or, a dexter hand holding a scimitar, in fess all proper". The Chief's Crest is the exclusive personal property of the Chief and can solely be used by him. The second is the Clansman's or Clanswoman's Badge. This badge may be worn by the Chief's clansmen or clanswomen and differs from the Chief's Crest, as it is surrounded by a strap and buckle carrying the Chief's motto or slogan "Fac et Spera" (Do and Hope) as shown below. The third is the Chief's Coat Of Arms. Comprised of a red and black shield with a gold lion, supported by two brown bears each with a gold crown around its neck, topped by a helmet on which sits the crest as described earlier. Beneath the shield is the Chief's other motto or slogan "O'Chian" (meaning "of Old"). The Chief's Coat Of Arms is the exclusive personal property of the Chief, and can solely be used by him.
Chief's Crest
Clansman's Badge
Chief's Coat Of ArmsA tartan is defined not simply by colour, but by the pattern of threads in warp and weft (the sett). The Scottish Tartans Society recognises six Matheson "setts" dating from 1805 to 1977. Of these, the Clan Chief recognises the red dress tartan and the dark green hunting tartan.
Dress Tartan
Hunting TartanThe Clan Society aims to build up a history of the Clan and its scattered representatives across the world in three main ways: research of the wider historical record; the Clan DNA project; and research and recording of Clan Society members' own histories, in which your own efforts as a Clan Society member will play a key part, alongside the work of the Clan genealogists. Data from the initial researches included in your original society application form will (unless otherwise indicated) be included in Clan Society records.
For further details please see the genealogy page listed under the History menu.
As yet, the Canadian branch of the Society does not yet host a website. Should this change, we will include a direct link to it, as and when it becomes available. In the interim, please contact one of the officers above, for further assistance.
We've amassed a number of photos over the years of locations and buildings with a Matheson connection, our Chiefs and Clan emblems, and from events, most recently from the Edinburgh Tattoo of 2017. Aside from the examples included in the gallery above this link (click on the images) and elsewhere on this website, you'll find a wealth of further images on the UK branch website: Click here for a direct link.
Our Facebook page is also being developed as a source of interesting and useful material and as such is a good place to view photos, submitted by both the Society and members alike. If you've any photos of your own, that you feel are notable and worthy of inclusion, then do please post them up. We would love to see them.