Sir Hector Munro, XX of Foulis, 2nd Baronet

Notes:

Hector was born about four months after his father died. It appears that there was opposition to his succession, but that Hector, even though an infant, had friends to look after his interests. The following is an extract from a letter written at Carbisdale on 28 Aug 1635 from Donald Mackay, Lord Reay, who was Hector's uncle. The letter is addressed to Donald's uncle Sir Robert Gordon.

"My sister, the Lady Fowlis is brought abed of a goodly boy whom we have called Hector after his father. We have had a meeting here with the Lord Lovat and some of the name of Monro. Some stand firm for the child--others not. Lovat is but a weak man, and we fear he may be brought over 'stayds' to the child his prejudice. There is no way to prevent this but to enter the child as heir to his uncle Robert and consolidate the estate in the child's person and take it out of Lovat's hands absolutely. This I dare not insist on except we had a ward and marriage, which I pray you to seek for as you love the child's standing or his house. I have written to the Earl of Morton not to dispone of it to the child's prejudice, therefore deal with Morton if he be there, if not deal with the King himself. If it may be had for a little thing we will take it of course. If not we must let it lie in Lovat's hands as it is. If you could get this wrought we should all here stand 'volens nolences.' If he be my sister's son he is your sister's grandchild, so do as you may and try it.
(Signed) "D. Reay.

"Whatever comes of this keep it from the Grays, for they and him ever go one way, and Lovat and them ever run on fours. "D. R."

Sir Alexander Gordon of Navidale, writing from Dornoch to his brother, Sir Robert Gordon, on 23 May 1636, adds the following postscript:--

"The Earl of Sutherland, my Lord Reay, and I, with other friends, convened at Tain, the tenth of this month, for settling the Laird of Fowlis his estate, wherein the government of the estate was in question betwixt Obsdale and Limlair; which all friends in one voice offered to Obsdale with Limlair's consent, yet Obsdale refused the same. So we all in one voice found Limlair so reasonable in all things that we have laid the burden of all upon Limlair until it please God the child be fourteen years of age. So I beseech you, whatever you hear about Limlair to the contrary, do not believe it, seeing Limlair has given contentment to all the friends for the weal of the House of Fowlis."

Sir Hector Munro succeeded his father in 1635 and became the 20th Baron and 2nd Baronet of Foulis. During his minority he had as tutors, John Munro of Limlair, Colonel Robert Munro, and Sir Robert Munro of Obsdale. He appears to have lived with his maternal uncle Donald and his son John, first and second Lords Reay, at their residence in Durness, Sutherlandshire.

In 1648, Hector appears as a student at King's College in Aberdeen.

On 25 Jan 1648, the Barony of Foulis was apprised from Hector and parts of it were granted to Sir George Munro and Colonel Robert Munro.

He died unmarried at the age of 17 at his uncle, the Lord Reay's house of Durness in December 1651. Burke's Peerage & Baronetage has for long stated that he died on his travels in Holland. One researcher disagrees on the year of his death and hints that his death was under suspicious circumstances.

By Sir Hector's untimely death was ended the main line of the first marriage of Robert Mor, fifteenth Baron (who died in 1588) when the representation of the family devolved upon Colonel Robert Munro of Obsdale, Sir Hector's second cousin and the nearest living male heir of the deceased Baronet. Colonel Robert was grandson of George Munro, eldest son of Robert Mor, by his second wife, Catherine. He was also a brother-in-law of the deceased Baronet, having married his sister, Jean. He succeeded in 1651 and became the 21st Baron of Foulis and the 3rd Baronet.

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Died:
Hector died in Durness at "his uncle's son's house", John Mackay, eldest son of Donald, firs Lord Reay.