Clan Hunter Timeline

Madam Pauline Natalie Hunter became the 30th Chief of Clan Hunter she has been most active in the promotion of Clan Hunter worldwide. She is our fifth female Clan Chief.

Neil Hunter the 29th laird continued the conflict against the incursion of further industrialisation at Hunterston. Neil married Sonia Furlong of Gloucestershire in England and they had seven children, one daughter and six sons.

In February 1954, Eleanora Agnes Cochran-Patrick (Aunt Nora) matriculated Arms as the 28th laird. Hunterston passed across to the descendants of Jane Hunter’s sister.

The 27th laird, Lieutenant General Sir Aylmer Hunter-Weston, KCB, DSO, JP, DL, Member of Parliament to North Ayrshire married Grace Strang Steel of Philiphaugh, Selkirk in 1905. However, they had no children. Aylmer died in 1940 and Grace in 1954.

Alexander Graham Bell patents the telephone.

Highland clearances drive people off the land to make way for sheep which sparks a Scottish diaspora.

Portrait of Eleanora Hunter

Robert Burns dies.

The 23rd laird, Robert Hunter married Janet Aitchison of Glasgow. Their two sons died young and two of their daughters were unmarried. Their third daughter, Eleonora succeeded her father on his death in 1796.

Marion Crawfurd

As the 21st laird Patrick (II) had his title to the land ratified by King William II on 27th June 1698.

Marion Cunninghame

Robert Huntar (III) the 18th laird had no children. The lairdship was passed through his sister Jean to her children in 1611. Diverting the inheritance through the female line explains the remarkable way the Hunters of Hunterston have maintained their unbroken history in Scotland.

Guy Fawkes is arrested during an attempt to blow up the English Parliament. As Lady Hunterston, Jean and her husband Patrick became co-heirs of Hunterston. Patrick is listed as the 19th laird but the inheritance came through his wife and her mother, both named Jean.

The 17th laird, Robert Hunter of Hunterstoune inherits as a minor. Later, he too fought beside Queen Mary at the Battle of Langside. He was a supporter of the Reformed Religion (Protestantism).

Mary Queen of Scots is born and is crowned at Stirling Castle the following year.

The 14th laird, John Hunter, is killed Battle of Flodden Field alongside King James IV. The 15th Laird, Robert Huntar of Huntarstoune was a minor when his father fell.

The islands of Orkney and Shetland are ceded to Scotland from Norway.

12th laird, William Huntar died while his son was a minor. His brother John, Hereditary Forrester became his guardian.

A grant of land is given to William Hunter 10th laird. The original Charter document remains at Hunterston to this day.

The 9th laird fought alongside King Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence against the English invaders whose defeat at Bannockburn is celebrated to this day.

The 5th laird, Ardneil Huntar fought for King Alexander III of Scotland at the Battle of Largs, 6 miles from Hunterston. Scotland won this last battle against the Vikings on the British mainland.

The 4th laird, John Deo Venator witnessed a deed in Glasgow Church records.

The 2nd laird, Norman I received a grant of land from King Malcolm IV of Scotland.

The Hunters were among Norman nobles who came to Scotland by invitation of David I they received a Royal appointment to hunt for the King of Scotland.

William I “the Conqueror” invades England. He takes hostage four Scottish princes. One of these, David grew up in the Norman Court and became King David I of Scotland.

The sacred isle of Iona is burned by the Vikings.

The Roman general Agricola marches his army into Scotland and subdues the Caledonian tribes.