Chiefship
In 1947, the Lord Lyon King of Arms granted the undifferenced arms of Macdonald of Macdonald to Alexander Godfrey Macdonald, 7th Lord Macdonald, making him the first High Chief of Clan Donald. After his death in 1970, he was succeeded by his son Godfrey James Macdonald of Macdonald, 8th Lord Macdonald, who is the current high chief of Clan Donald. In 1972, the Macdonald estates were sold off to pay death duties. Lord Macdonald lives at Kinloch Lodge on Skye with his wife, the food writer Claire Macdonald (m. 1969).
The following is a list of some of the early chiefs of Clan Donald.
| Name | Died | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dòmhnall Dubh | 1545 | Rebelled against the king of Scotland but made an alliance with the king of England. |
| Aonghas Òg | 1490 | 'Bastard' son of John of Islay. Last MacDonald Lord of the Isles. |
| John of Islay, Earl of Ross | 1503 | Fought at the Battle of Bloody Bay against his son. |
| Alexander of Islay, Earl of Ross | 1449 | His second son was Celestine of Lochalsh, 1st of the Macdonald of Lochalsh branch and third son was Hugh of Sleat, 1st of the Macdonalds of Sleat branch. |
| Dòmhnall of Islay, Lord of the Isles | 1422/3 | Fought at the Battle of Harlaw. |
| John of Islay, Lord of the Isles | 1380 | His second son was John Mòr, 1st of the MacDonells of Antrim branch and third son was Alastair Carroch of Keppoch, 1st of the Macdonald of Keppoch branch. |
| Aonghas Òg of Islay | 1329/16 | Fought at the Battle of Bannockburn. His second son was Ian Fraoch of Glencoe, 1st of the Macdonald of Glencoe branch. |
| Alexander Og MacDonald, Lord of Islay | 1299 | Killed in battle by the MacDougalls and was succeeded by his younger brother. |
| Aonghas Mór (Angus Mor MacDonald) | 1292 | His second son was Alastair Og (deposed) and third son was John Sprangach of Ardnamurchan, 1st of the Macdonalds of Ardnamurchan branch. |
| Dòmhnall Mac Raghnuill (Donald) | 1250 | From whom the Clan Donald takes its name. |
| Raghnall Mac Somhairle (Ranald) | 1207 | His second son was Ruairidh, 1st of Clanranald. |
| Somerled | 1164 | Killed at the Battle of Renfrew. |
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