Donald Cameron of Lochiel (1835–1905)

Lochiel was the eldest son of Donald Cameron, 23rd Lochiel and Vere Catherine Louisa Hobart (1803–1888), daughter of Hon. George Vere Hobart and his second wife Janet Maclean, a scion of the Macleans of Coll and Camerons of Glendessary.[1] Lochaber joyously celebrated the birth of Lochiel's heir during the spring of 1835, with commemorative dinners held by Camerons "from Ballachulish Ferry to the Marches of Knoydart", as well as the lighting of bonfires on Ben Nevis.[2]

He was educated at Harrow, and shortly thereafter entered into diplomatic service.[2]

Entering the Foreign Office in 1852, Cameron was employed in diplomatic service in Europe and the Far East. In 1857, he was first attaché of the Earl of Elgin’s special embassy to the Qing dynasty in China during the Second Opium War.[2] He was then at the British embassy in Berlin where he met with Otto von Bismarck, and was also paid attaché at Berne, Copenhagen and Stockholm.[3] He retired from the diplomatic service in 1859.

At the 1868 general election he was elected Member of Parliament for Inverness-shire and took his seat in the House of Commons, which he held until 1885.[4] He was a Justice of the peace and Deputy lieutenant for Inverness-shire and Buckinghamshire respectively.[5] From 1887, he held the office of Lord Lieutenant of Inverness-shire.[6] From 1874 to 1880, Lochiel served as groom-in-waiting to Queen Victoria,[5] whom he had hosted during a Royal visit to Achnacarry in 1873.[2]

Active in sheep farming, Lochiel had to take on the stakes of most of the sheep farms on his estate during the acute depression in the industry. As such, he had an intimate knowledge of the shepherds plight, and that of the related business of deer stalking. He was appointed in 1883 to the Napier Association, to enquire into the grievances of the Crofters, and was later named to the Deer Forest Commission in 1894.[2]

In 1875, Lochiel married Lady Margaret Montagu Douglas Scott, second daughter of the 5th Duke of Buccleuch,[6][7] with whom he had four sons:

• Col. Sir Donald Walter Cameron, 25th Lochiel (1876–1951), who succeeded; married Lady Hermione Graham, daughter of the Duke of Montrose.[7]
• Cpt. Ewen Charles Cameron (1878–1958), officer in the Lovat Scouts.[7]
• Allan George Cameron (1880–1914), killed near Aisne during World War I.[7]
• Archibald Cameron (1886–1917), killed at the Battle of Arras during World War I.[7]

Statue in Fort William

Lochiel is commemorated with a statue in Fort William on the Parade, erected circa 1905. He is depicted in full Highland regalia with an inscription in Scottish Gaelic: Dòmhnall Camshron mac Dhòmhnaill Dubh. Tribute to a man who faithfully served both Lochaber and his clan during his lifetime.[2]

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Donald Cameron
• XXIV Chief: Donald Cameron of Lochiel, M.P.
• Lord Cameron of Lochiel, Am Baile