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The Highland Society of London was
originally formed on 28th May 1778, when
twenty-five Highland gentlemen met at
the Spring Garden Coffee House in
London, in order to form a Society that
“might prove beneficial to that part of
the Kingdom”. The first President was
Lt-General Simon Fraser of Lovat and the
Society was subsequently incorporated by
Act of Parliament in 1816. Since 1965,
the Society has been registered as a
charity with the Charity Commission of
England and Wales, number 244472. Her
Majesty The Queen is Chief of the
Society and the current President is
Duncan Byatt.
For over two hundred years, the Society
has been influential in matters relating
to the Highlands and Islands of
Scotland. In 1782, the Society procured
the repeal of the Disarming Act (passed
after the Rising of 1745 and which,
amongst other things, prohibited the
wearing of Highland Dress); and from
1784, secured the restoration of
forfeited Highland Estates. The Society
was also instrumental in setting up the
forerunner of the British Fisheries
Society in 1786, leading to the founding
of fishing villages at Ullapool,
Tobermory and others. In 1815, the
Society established the Royal Caledonian
Asylum (now Royal Caledonian Schools),
to educate needy children of Highland
descent living in London. In 1859, the
Society took a prominent part in forming
the London Scottish Rifle Volunteers;
and in 1902, successfully opposed an
attempt to abolish the Kilt as the field
dress of Highland Regiments. The
Society’s subsidiary charity, the
Baroness Von Wilczek (née Mackenzie)
charity, founded in 1911 to help
Scottish Regiment war widows in need and
whose funds were finally exhausted in
2014, has now been wound up; its
remaining obligations are being met from
a separate fund within the Society.
During this time, the Society gathered a
large collection of Gaelic manuscripts
and other historical artefacts. Many of
these manuscripts (including copies of
the Poems of Ossian, published in Gaelic
by the Society in 1807) are available to
view at the National Library of
Scotland, in Edinburgh; and the
Society’s unique collection of ancient
tartans is on view at the National
Museum of Scotland, also in Edinburgh.
There are other items on display at the
Caledonian Club in London and at the The
Museum of the Isles at the Clan Donald
Centre, at Armadale on Skye.
The current focus of the Society is to
support traditions and culture
particular to the Highlands and Islands.
The Society awards the prestigious Gold
Medal for the best player of
Piobaireachd at each of the Argyllshire
Gathering and the Northern Meeting,
annually; and awards prizes at various
other Piping competitions. Each year the
Society also gives an art prize through
the Royal Scottish Academy; Gaelic
singing prizes at the Royal National
Mod; Highland Dancing prizes at the
Glenfinnan Games; essay prizes through
the University of the Highlands and
Islands; and recently launched the
Highland Book Prize . In addition, the
Society makes financial grants to a
number of related charities and
organisations that promote and support
Highland traditions and culture, and
Members are encouraged to contact the
Committee of Management with suggestions
for suitable beneficiaries. The Society
is funded through Life Membership fees,
income on its investments and charitable
donations.
The Rules and Bye-laws of the Society
currently state that: “Persons qualified
for being proposed Members are natives
of the Highlands of Scotland,
Descendants or Spouses of Highlanders,
Proprietors of Land in the Highlands,
Individuals who have done signal service
to that part of The Kingdom, or Officers
serving or who have served in Highland
Corps.” Candidates for Membership must
be proposed and seconded by two existing
Members (neither of whom is the
candidate’s parent) for approval by the
Membership at a General Court. There is
a Life Membership fee due on joining
(currently £250), but no annual
subscription; although Members wishing
to make ongoing donations can do so via
the Society’s Justgiving site.
The Society’s regular activities in
London include the General Court and
Annual Dinner in March, celebrating
General Sir Ralph Abercromby and all
Scotsmen who have fallen in defence of
their country, with the focus of the
evening on the piping of the Society’s
Honorary Piper; the Spring Cocktail
Party in May, generally held in
conjunction with members of the Northern
Meeting and the Argyllshire Gathering;
and a second General Court and Dinner in
either November or December, followed by
a selection of Highland music and
entertainment. Members are encouraged to
attend these events, and to bring
guests. The Highland Ball takes place at
the beginning of March each year, under
the auspices of the Highland Society of
London.
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