Biography

Alistair MacKinnon was born in Bunacaimb, Morar, in the year 1770. He went into the army in 1794, serving in the Gordon Highlanders under Captain Simon MacDonald of Morar. According to John MacKenzie, who published the some of Alistair's poetry in Sàr Obair nam Bàrd Gàidhealach: "Corporal MacKinnon was prepossessing in appearance; he stood about five feet, ten inches in height; he was athletic in form, and of very fine proportions and symmetry."

MacKinnon fought in the Battle of Egmont-op-Zee, also known as the Battle of Holland:

Air mìos dheireannach an fhoghair
'N dara latha, 's math mo chuimhne.
Ghluais na Breatannaich bhon fhaiche
A chum tachairt ris na nàimhdean.
Thug Abercrombie taobh na mara
Dhiubh le canain 's mi gan cluinntinn,
'S bha fòirneadh aig Mùr gu daingeann
Cumail aingil ris na Frangaich.

This was in 1799. At the Battle of Alexandria in 1801 he was badly injured and left for dead on the battlefield, with orders that his body be buried. Fortunately, before this was carried out, his friend, a sergeant named MacLean, noticed that he was still breathing, and he was taken to the hospital aboard a ship. He paints a picture of the battle for us in these verses:

Cho ullamh ris an fhùdar
A bha dol na smùid mur ceann
Ghluais na gillean lùth-chleasach
Air mhir' a-null don ghleann.
Thug sinn le teine dùbailte
Bristeadh as na trùpairean;
Bha Greumaich an euchd fiùghantach;
Cha d' èist iad mùiseag lann.

Mar stoirm a b' iargalt' connsachadh
A' spìonadh neòil is chrann,
A' riasladh fairge mòire
'S a' pianadh sheòl 's gan call;
Cruaidh dian bha buaidh nan Gòrdanach;
Bu lìonmhor sguab is dòrlaichean
A bhuain iad air a' chòmhnard
Far an tug na slòigh dhaibh ceann.

MacKinnon's health was restored and he left the army with a pension. He married and settled in Fort William, where he passed away in 1814.

List of compositions

An Dubh Ghleannach