Flora MacDonald, 1722 - 1790
Flora MacDonald was the only daughter of Ranald MacDonald, of Milton and Balevannich, and Marion MacDonald of the Griminish family. On her father's side Flora was descended from the Clanranald chiefs which had terminated with Ranald who was killed at Sheriffmuir in 1715. On her mother's side she could claim kinship with the MacDonald's of Largie. She was born in 1722; she was at this period of our history a handsome, intelligent girl of twenty-four, not very tall but well proportioned and typically Highland both in appearance and temperament, and having but twelve months previously returned from a long stay in Edinburgh where she had been attending a select school for young ladies kept by a Miss Henderson in the Old Stamp-Office Close, and in the intervals of her studies mixing in the fashionable society of the city under the distinguished chaperonage of the beautiful Countess of Eglington, she possessed in addition to many personal charms,of all accomplishments and graces of the well educated and cultured gentlewomen of her time.
She had lost her own father when quite an infant, and in the year 1728 her mother contracted a second marriage with another gentleman of her own clan, Hugh MacDonald or Armadale, Skye, who was in every respect a worthy husband and an affectionate stepfather to old Milton's two children, Angus and Flora.  Flora MacDonald painted by Allan Ramsay
Flora married on November 6th, 1750, Captain Allan MacDonald of Flodigarry, Kingsburgh's son. Upon Kingsburgh's death in 1766 Captain Allan moved to the paternal house, remaining there until 1775, when owing to some financial troubles he emigrated with his family to North Carolina. While in America the War of Independence broke out. Kingsburgh raised a company of soldiers and fought in a skirmish. He was captured and spent eighteen months in prison. He was released on parole and eventually returned to his native island. Flora was left to her own devices while her husband was in prison. She was subjected to intimation and her property was stolen. She was reunited with her husband in New York and returned to England alone. Flora and her by now disabled husband were supported financially by her son John.
On the 4 March 1790 Flora yielded up her heroic spirit at the farm house of Peindum, mourned by all who knew her. She lies in the old burying-ground at Kilmuir, where a fine Iona cross has been erected to her memory. The original marble grave tablet eventually deteriorated which allowed tourists to remove all traces of the original stone. In 1880 the present cross was erected by public subscription. The above text was compiled from the following sources. The Life and Adventures of Prince Charles Edward Stuart, by W. Drummond Norie, published 1900, Vol 4, footnote on pages 46, 47, 83 to 85 and Flora Macdonald The Most Loyal Rebel by Hugh Douglas NOTE: More details to come of the capture of Flora MacDonald and her life in the USA. Additional Links
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Peinduin Farmhouse, Skye. Flora MacDonald died in this house.
Flora MacDonald's grave
Statute of Flora MacDonald, Inverness Castle.
Monkstat House on the Isle of Skye. Flora along with Bonnie Prince Charlie arrived near here after the boat trip from the Outer Isles. Prince Charles did not leave the coastal landing area.
Richard Wilson, an artist in the Prince's circle, painted several portraits of Flora MacDonald that were circulated as engravings and served to reinforce her reputation as a Jacobite heroine. This portrait was probably painted on Flora MacDonald's release from the Tower in July 1747.
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