Archibald Norman McLeod

Who was Archibald Norman McLeod?

Major The Hon. Archibald Norman McLeod J.P., was a partner of the North West Company and a political figure in Lower Canada. In 1805, he built Fort Dunvegan. He was a member of the Beaver Club and represented Montreal West in the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada from 1810 to 1814. He fought in the War of 1812 as a Major with the Canadian Voltigeurs. McLeod Lake, British Columbia is named for him.

Born at Kilfinichen, he was the fifth son of Rev. Neil McLeod M.A., a native of St Kilda, and Margaret MacLean, daughter of Rev. Archibald MacLean M.A., of the MacLeans of Boreray, North Uist. Archibald's grandfather, John McLeod, 4th Laird of Pabbay and Steward of St Kilda, was directly descended from the 6th Chief of Clan MacLeod of Lewis, of Dunvegan Castle. In 1773, Samuel Johnson and James Boswell stayed as guests of Archibald's father, who Boswell described as, "a Minister that lives upon the coast, whose elegance of conversation and strength of judgment would make him conspicuous in places of greater celebrity... We were very agreeably entertained at his house. Dr. Johnson observed to me that he was the clearest headed man that he had met with in the Western Islands".