Apr 10

Unveiling of plaque for Marshal MacDonald

On Friday the 30th of April 2010, a plaque to commemorate the life of Marshal MacDonald, Duke of Tarentum, will be unveiled in the village of his father’s birth, Howbeg in South Uist. Following the unveiling ceremony a seminar and ceilidh will be held at Kildonan Museum at 8pm to celebrate the life of Jacques Etienne Joseph Alexandre MacDonald – a truly remarkable individual.

Marshal MacDonald was recognised by Napoleon for his military prowess and became his right hand man within a short space of time. Present at the unveiling will be Mr Herve Bouche, the French Consul General in Scotland and Mr Etienne Louÿs, Secretary General of the French Institute.

Convenor of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Councillor Alex MacDonald said: ‘In 1825 Marshal MacDonald visited South Uist for the only time in his life. His meteoric rise through the ranks of the French Napoleonic army is nothing short of incredible, and I am delighted that we are commemorating his life and visit to South Uist in this way’.