Strachan History

This name is derived from the lands of Strachan, or Strathachen, in Kincardineshire. Strath is derived from the Gaelic, "strath", 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 that 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 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.
There are records of Thorntons of that Ilk in the Mearns from the 13th century but the male line failed in the reign of David II and the lands and barony of Thornton passed to the Strachan family with the marriage of Sir James Strachan of Monboddo to Agneta, heiress of Valentine de Thornton who had received a charter "de terris de Thornetoun in lie Kincardin-Mernis" from Robert the Bruce in 1309. Thereafter for over 300 years Thornton was in the possession of the "ancient family of Strachan" - a family which was ardently devoted to the service of the Crown. David Strachan, 9th of Thornton, was Justice Clerk from 1492-1497. The 11th laird, John Strachan - whose daughter Elizabeth married William Forbes of Corse and bore him six distinguished sons including John Forbes. A granddaughter of this laird, Catherine Strachan of Thornton, was mother of the Covenanting General John, Earl of Middleton.
But not all Strachan lairds were models of propriety. Sir Alexander Strachan, a Commissioner of the Exchequer and 1st baronet of Thornton, scandalised the whole country when he conveyed the gladly consenting Margaret Ogilvy, Countess Marischal, and with her a priceless dowry of plundered heirlooms, jewellery and furnishings, to live with him at Thornton while her famous husband, George Keith, 5th Earl of Marischal, lay dying in his sea-girt stronghold of Dunnottar.
The only surviving son of this infamous laird, Colonel Alexander Strachan, was a distinguished cavalry officer who held Thornton for the Covenant against the forces of the Marquis of Montrose in 1646, for which service "and for the benefit of the country round about" he was granted a provision of arms, ammunition and victuals for a garrison of thirsty men. After the regicide, like many another disillusioned Parliamentarian, he transferred his allegiance to Charles II, by whom he was appointed in 1650 a Commissioner to advise the King upon the government of Scotland and the administration of the Army.
With the marriage in 1654 of Sir James Strachan, 3rd baronet and 17th laird, to his 16 year old cousin Elizabeth Forbes of Waterton and of their son James (who fell by the side of his leader "Bonnie Dundee" at the battle of Killiecrankie) to Barbara Forbes of Newton the estate passed into the successive ownership of 3 Forbes lairds and, in 1720, to Thomas Fullerton of Gallery, the initials of whose son, Phillip (Beau) Fullerton of the Dragoon Guards and of his wife Katharine Scott of Benholm embellish the gilded weather-vane on the keep.
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