Scottish Clans: Clan Brodie


Figure 1.--This portrit by James Currie shows the two eldest sons of William Brodie in Higland dress, George and Hugh Brodie. They are pictured on the moor and look to be about 6-9 years old. It would have been painted aboy 1847-48 . They have glengaries, black jackets, open collar white shirts, wide leather belts red tartan kilts, Argyle knee socks, and buckle shoes. George wears a tartan over-the-sholder plaid sash and sporan as he is older. These were dress outfits, we doubt if they went on outings on the moor dressed quite like this.

The Clan Brodie were a notable Scottish family since the 12th century. Their origins are uncertain. The first known Brodie chiefs were the Thanes of Brodie and Dyke in the norther Higlands--Morayshire. The Brodies were present in several clan conflicts, and during the civil war were ardent covenanters. They resisted involvement in the Jacobite uprisings, and the chief's family later prospered under the British Empire in colonial India. The family estate was Brodie Castle. It was built in the 16th century, but largely destroyd in clan conflict during the 17th centuy. The presnt structure ts a restoration of the originl, although the tower is believed to date back to 1430 and the newest parts were added 1820–30. It is located near Forres, in Moray, about as far north as one can go in the Scottish Highlands. Alexander Brodie was the 20th Lairds and a 17th century portrait exists of him as a boy by Charles Phillips. William Brodie (1799-1873) was the 22nd Laird of Brodie. An early painting by John Opie in the early-19th century shows William Brodie as a boy with his brothers, sisters, and a huge dog. William wears a red skeleton suit and all the other children wear plain long Empire-style dresses without a tartan in sight. Some of the yonger childrn must be boys. A few decades later, Currie painted a very destinguished looking William as an adult with his wife Elizabeth Baillie and their children during the 1840s. There were six children: George Gordon (1839- ), Hugh Fife Ashley (1840- ), Caithness Druim (1842- ), and William Douglas (1845- ), and two other children. There do not appear to have been any surviving sisters. Currie has left us several important images as to how children from a rich Scottish Highland family dressed in the mid-19th century. The Scottish influence is much stronger thn was the case when William was growing up which of course we an credit at least in part to Queen Victoria. The Curie paintings mages show the boys wearing dresses and kilts. Apparently they wore tartan dresses before being dresed in kilts.

Clan History

Clan Brodie were a notable Scottish family since the 12th century. Their origins are uncertain. The first known Brodie chiefs were the Thanes of Brodie and Dyke in the norther Higlands--Morayshire. The Brodies were present in several clan conflicts, and during the civil war were ardent covenanters. They resisted involvement in the Jacobite uprisings, and the chief's family later prospered under the British Empire in colonial India.

Brodie Castle

The family estate was Brodie Castle. It was built in the 16th century, but largely destroyd in clan conflict during the 17th centuy. The presnt structure is a restoration of the originl, although the tower is believed to date back to 1430 and the newest parts were added 1820–30. It is located near Forres, in Moray, about as far north as one can go in the Scottish Highlands.

20th Laird: Alexander Brodie

Alexander Brodie was the 20th Lairds and a 19th century portrait exists of him as a boy. It was paintd by Charles Phillips.

21st Laird: James Brodie

The 21st Laird of Brodi was James Brodie (1737-97). Another source suggests different birth dates (1744-1824). His oldest sin was William who died short a after his father in India. His second son, James, died earlier. His other children were girls. We are not sure what happened to the laird office as William the 22nd laird was no born until 1797 and we are not sure who his parnts were. We do note a portrait of William and his siblingsbyJohn Opie which would have been painted about 1805. All the other children wear Empire dresses, the style of the day. Some of the younger children presumbly were boys. It is interesting to note that no one wears plaid. William wears a bright red skeketon suit. Hopefully some clearer detaild are available on the people and dates.

22th Laird: William Brodie

William Brodie (1799-1873) was the 22nd Laird of Brodie. An early painting by John Opie in the early-19th century shows William Brodie as a boy with his brothers, sisters, and a huge dog. William wears a red skeleton suit and all the other children wear plain long Empire-style dresses without a tartan in sight. Some of the yonger childrn must be boys. A few decades later, artist James Currie painted a very destinguished looking William as an adult with his wife Elizabeth Baillie and their children during the 1840s. Currie was connected with the Brodie family in Scotland and painted several portraits of the family in the mid-19th century.There were six children: George Gordon (1839- ), Hugh Fife Ashley (1840- ), Caithness Druim (1842- ), and William Douglas (1845- ), and two other children. There do not appear to have been any surviving sisters. Currie has left us several important images as to how children from a rich Scottish Highland family dressed in the mid-19th century. The Scottish influence is much stronger thn was the case when William was growing up which of course we an credit at least in part to Queen Victoria. The Curie paintings mages show the boys wearing dresses and kilts. Apparently they wore tartan dresses before being dresed in kilts.






HBC






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Created: 7:07 AM 12/12/2017
Last updated: 10:33 PM 12/12/2017