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Clan Munro USA
Genealogy Pages
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 1687 - 1746 (58 years)
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| Name |
Dr. Duncan Munro |
| Born |
19 Sep 1687 |
Of, Obsdale, Scotland  |
| Gender |
Male |
| Died |
17 Jan 1746 |
Battle Of, Falkirk |
| Buried |
Falkirk Church, Falkirk |
| Person ID |
I12588 |
Munro |
| Last Modified |
15 Jan 2008 |
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| Notes |
- Duncan was a Medical Doctor. He served as commissar Principle of Ross in 1734. He spent many years in India and was killed with his eldest brother, Sir Robert, at the battle of Falkirk.
Ref: "The Munro Tree (1734)" by R. W. Munro - Y/6
Ref: "The Munro Tree (1734)" by R. W. Munro - Y, Y/6, R/30
Sir Robert Munro of Fowlis Sheriff principle of Ross succeeded A D 1696 he married Jean daughter to John Forbes of Culloden by whom he had 3 sons and a daughter and dyed 1729.
Mr Duncan Munro M:D: and Commissar principle of Ross A D 1734 3d son.
Dr Duncan of Obsdale, b 19 Sep 1687, spent many years in India, killed with eldest brother Sir Robert at Falkirk 17 Jan 1746 (Falkirk MI, Scots Mag 42, Doddridge 258, CP 267-8).
"...Limlair was sold in 1738 to Dr Duncan Y/6..."
Ref: "History of the Munros" by A. Mackenzie - p. 114-116, 134-135, 295
3. Duncan, born on the 19th of September, 1687, and styled "of Obsdale." Educated for the medical profession at the University of Edinburgh, he graduated M.D., and is said to have been a gentleman of superior knowledge, not only in his own profession, but in several paths of polite literature. "But these," says Dr Doddridge, "I hold cheap when compared to the goodness of his heart; his greatest study was to know himself, and I verily believe that since the early ages of Christianity there has not appeared a more upright person." Dr Munro, after passing through his college curriculum, went to India, where he remained many years, practising his profession. He at the same time diligently inquired into the maners, customs, arts, and manufactures of the natives, and also into the produce and commodities of the Empire. "So that," says Dr Doddridge, "he was much more capable of giving entertainment to persons of curiosity in such things, than travellers commonly are; and his veracity was such, that all who knew him could entirely depend upon whatever he reported as on his own knowledge. To all those advantages was added a memory remarkably tenacious of every circumstance with which he charged it. But, perhaps, it was a loss to the world that it was so, as it hindered him from committing many extraordinary things to writing, which would have afforded improvement, as well as delight, to the public. The want of such memoirs from so able a hand is the more to be regretted as his remarkable modesty did not permit him to talk much in company. One might spend a good deal of time with him without perceiving by any hints from him that he had ever been outside of Britain. But when his friends seemed desirous of information on any of these topics, as they fell in his way, he communicated his observations upon them with the utmost freedom, and gave them the greatest satisfaction imaginable; of which some remarkable instances happened at the houses of persons of very considerable rank, who paid him that respect which he so well deserved. It was the more to be desired," continues this writer, "that he should have left behind him some written memoirs of his own remarks and adventures, as he was a most attentive observer of Divine Providence, and had experienced many singular instances of it. One is so remarkable that it claims a place here, brief as these hints must necessarily be:--"After he had continued eight or ten years in the East Indies, he was shipwrecked on the Malabar Coast, as he was on his passage home. He saved his life on a plank, but lost all his effects, except a small parcel of diamonds. This ruinous calamity, as it seemed to be, obliged him to return to Fort St. George, where he experienced far beyond what he could have expected the extraordinary friendship of several English gentlemen of that settlement, and felt the solid effects of it, as by their assistance he acquired much more in six or seven years following (for his whole stay in that country was about sixteen years) than he had lost by shipwreck. And when he left the settlement he had all sorts of encouragement offered him to induce him to stay; but his health and other circumstances obliged him to return home. This return (which happened, if I mistake not, about the year 1726) was a happy Providence to many; for as he was remarkably successful in both the branches of his profession (medicine and surgery), he took great pains in both; and as he did this without fee or reward, when he was satisfied the circumstances of the afflicted needed such assistance, he was an instrument of saving many limbs and many lives, which would otherwise in all probability have been lost. To this account I must beg leave to add what another of my correspondents writes to me concerning the Doctor in the following words--'As we were often by ourselves, I still found him inclined to turn our discourse to spiritual subjects concerning God and religion, the offices of the Great Redeemer, and the power of God's spirit in converting and sanctifying the souls of men, and the hopes of eternal life through Christ.' I transcribe the passage thus particularly concerning this pious physician, as I esteem it, in one view, a peculiar honour to him, and permit me to say, in another to the profession itself. Blessed by God, that tho' it is so rare a case, yet there are those of that learned body who 'are not ashamed of the gospel of Christ,' but, who, knowing it to be true on incontestable evidence, and having felt (what one would imagine every rational creature who believes it to be true, must immediately see) its infinite importance, have steadily determined to submit to its influence, and to maintain its honours in the midst of all the scorn and derision of their infidel brethern. A determination, which, perhaps, requires no less courage, especially in some tempers, than that generous instance of fraternal love, which will entail such lasting glory on the memory of Doctor Munro."
When the Rising of 1745 broke out Dr Duncan Munro, from pure fraternal affection, accompanied his brother, Sir Robert--who was in command of a regiment--to the battles of Prestonpans and Falkirk. In the latter Sir Robert was hard pressed by six of Prince Charlie's followers, who attacked him with their battleaxes, etc. He defended himself bravely, killing two of his assailants. The Doctor, seeing him in such imminent peril, ran to his assistance, but they were both shot down and their bodies mangled. Their remains were buried in the same grave in Falkird Churchyard, near where they fill fighting so gallantly. Sir Hugh Munro afterwards erected over their grave a handsome monument of stone, with ornamental carving, bearing an inscription on either side commemorating each of them; that to the memory of Dr Munro being to the following effect:--
"Duncanus Munro de Obsdale, M.D., AE., LIX,
Frater Fratrum linguere fugieus
Sancium curausictus incrimis
Commorreus cohonestat Uniam."
Thus died the pious and brave Doctor Duncan Munro on the 17th of January, 1746, in the 59th year of his age, unmarried.
...the 37th Regiment...took part in the battle of Falkirk on the 17th of January, 1746, where fell its new Colonel, Sir Robert,...
Sir Harry Munro, his heir and successor, a few days after the battle, on the 22nd of the same month, wrote to Lord President Forbes as follows:--
"My Lord,--I think it my duty to acquaint your Lordship of the deplorable situation I am in. The engagement between the King's troops and the Highlanders on Thursday last, within a mile of Falkirk, proves to me a series of woe. There both my dear father and uncle Obsdale were slain. The last, your Lordship knows, had no particular business to go to the action, but out of a most tender love and concern for his brother, could not be dissuaded from attending him, to give assistance if need required. My father after being deserted, was attacked by six of Lochiel's regiment, and for some time defended himself with his half pike. Two of the six, I am informed, he killed, a seventh coming up fired a pistol into my father's groin, upon which, falling, the Highlander with his sword gave him two strokes in the face, one over the eyes and another on the mouth, which instantly ended a brave man. The same Highlander fired another pistol into my uncle's breast, and with his sword terribly slashed him, whom he killed. He then despatched a servant of my father's. That thus my dearest father and uncle perished, I am informed, and this information I can depend on, as it comes from some who were eye-witnesses to it. My father's corpse was honourably interred in the Church-yard of Falkirk by direction of the Earl of Cromarty and the Macdonalds, and all the Chiefs attended his funeral. Sir Robert was the only body on the field on our side that was taken care of. Now, my Lord, you may easily conceive, all circumstances duly weighed, how dismal my situation is. I depend on your advice and assistance."
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