Jump To Section:
Clan Colquhoun is blessed with a wealth of talented members! The family have impressed with their skills across a wide range of fields, possessing military valour, sporting success, artistic vision, and more. Join us to meet a few of the most accomplished Colquhouns.
Meet the Famous Colquhouns
Sir Iain Colquhoun, 7th Baronet
Sir Iain Colquhoun, 7th Baronet, was a hugely respected and beloved man, admired for his military service, intelligence, and strong moral character.
Colquhoun began his army career during the First World War, when he served for the Scots Guard. His early years were somewhat rocky, as his confident manner ruffled some feathers. In 1914, opposing troops on the Western Front famously observed an unofficial Christmas truce, allowing each other a break from fighting in light of the festive season. However, when the 28-year-old Captain Colquhoun agreed to hold the same truce in 1915, he was brought before a court-martial.
Thankfully, he had some powerful friends on his side. Raymond Asquith, son of Prime Minister H.H. Asquith, defended Colquhoun and, though he was found guilty, he was given the lightest possible sentence, a reprimand. This was forgiven shortly after, to recognise Colquhoun’s admirable and dedicated service in the field.
His talents were obvious, and by 1918, he was a Commanding Officer, leading his troops to several iconic victories. One particularly memorable occasion took place on 21st March 1918, when the German spring offensive began to overrun the allies’ forward defences.
Colquhoun’s men had only just returned from 24 hours of continuous trench duty when they were sent straight back to assist in the defence. Under Colquhoun’s leadership, the battalion bravely managed to hold off the Germans for the rest of the day, with only modest casualties.
His valour was rewarded with several medals, including the Distinguished Service Order, and he received a Mention in Dispatches, which means his bravery was recorded in official reports.
After the war, he was made Honorary Colonel for the 9th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and Glasgow University Officer Training Corps.
He also served his country in a variety of other ways, taking on the role of Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1932, 1940, and 1941, and acting as the Lord Rector of Glasgow University from 1934 to 1937. In 1937, he was even made a Knight of the Thistle, one of Scotland’s greatest honours.
While Colquhoun is mainly remembered for his military achievements, his love of Scotland’s natural beauty and heritage also formed a key part of his life. In 1931, he led a small group of Scottish aristocrats in founding the National Trust for Scotland and became the organisation’s first chairman.
Whether fighting on the battlefield or fighting to preserve Scotland’s magnificent countryside, Colquhoun spent his life in service to his country.
Robert Colquhoun
Our next famous Colquhoun for today made his name in the art world, counting Lucien Freud and Dylan Thomas among his admirers. Robert Colquhoun was born in 1914 in Kilmarnock and studied at Kilmarnock Academy, before winning a scholarship to attend the Glasgow School of Art.
While at the University, he met Robert MacBryde, who would become a lifelong romantic partner and professional collaborator, with the 2 becoming known affectionately as the ‘2 Roberts.’ In the summer of 1938, the pair received funding to travel through France and Italy, where they picked up inspiration in Paris, Marseille, Genoa, and Rome.
The Second World War briefly halted Colquhoun’s artistic career, as he helped the war effort by serving as an ambulance driver in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He returned to London in 1941 after being injured, and set himself up in a studio space with MacBryde, determined to make headway with his art.
His early works often depicted agricultural labourers and were strongly influenced by the landscapes of rural Ayrshire. Later, he became heavily influenced by Picasso, and took on a more expressionist style, focusing largely on the theme of an isolated and distressed figure.
His renown grew, and from the mid-1940s, he was popularly considered one of the leading artists of his generation, with his work regularly being shown at the Lefevre Gallery in London.
Colquhoun also worked with MacBryde on a number of set designs, including for Gielgud’s Macbeth, King Lear at Stratford, and Massine’s Scottish ballet, Donald of the Burthens, which was produced by the Sadler’s Wells Ballet at Covent Garden in 1951.
However, later on in the 1950s, Colquhoun struggled with serious alcohol addiction, finding it increasingly impossible to produce any more work.
Colquhoun sadly died at the age of just 47, having retreated from the art scene he once led.
Today, his influence is undisputed, and his talent is clear. If you’re looking for a way to connect with your Colquhoun heritage, we’d recommend exploring his work.
Eddie Colquhoun
Our final famous face today was a footballer blessed with impressive talent.
Edmund Peter Skirving Colquhoun was born on 29th March 1945 in Prestonpans, a small mining town located about 8 miles east of Edinburgh. The young Colquhoun would go on to have a glittering football career.
Colquhoun entered the profession in 1962, playing for Bury, where he became affectionately known as ‘Eddie Colquhoun.’ He appeared in the league 81 times, before moving to West Bromwich Albion in 1967. During his time at the club, they won the 1967 – 68 FA Cup.
This caught the eye of Sheffield United manager, Arthur Rowley, who was impressed with Colquhoun’s skill and decided to sign him for £27,500.
Colquhoun made his debut for Sheffield United against Huddersfield Town on 19th October 1968, playing spectacularly. He was quickly made team captain for his home debut at Bramall Lane against Charlton Athletic, a match which United won 2-0. Colquhoun was on a roll, scoring his first Sheffield United goal the following week against Portsmouth at Fratton Park.
He proved to be a highly successful player and was an integral part of leading Sheffield to promotion to the First Division in the 1970 – 71 season. He was a hard worker, making a total of 416 appearances and scoring 21 goals between 1968 and 1978.
He was also a fan favourite, even being celebrated in the chant:
‘We ain’t got a barrel of money, but we’ve got Woodward and Currie, and with Eddie Colquhoun, promotion is soon, United.’
Colquhoun also had an impressive international career playing for Scotland, making his official debut against Portugal at Hampden Park, and going on to win 11 caps between 1967 and 1973, and scoring 11 goals.
In 1978, he moved to America to join Detroit Express and Washington Diplomats, before retiring his playing career.
To this day, he is among Sheffield United’s most iconic players and holds an important spot in football history!
That brings us to end of this month’s famous faces blog. We hope you feel inspired by the great achievements of Clan Colquhoun!
If you would like to learn more about this impressive family, head over to our Clan Colquhoun page for a comprehensive clan history and be sure to keep an eye out over the rest of the month for plenty more Colquhoun content.
Image Sources:
Portrait Sir Iain Colquhoun by Manchurian Advisor - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
The western façade of the Mackintosh building in 2009 by Jean-Pierre Dalbéra from Paris, France - La façade ouest de la "Glasgow School of Art", CC BY 2.0
Bramall Lane, Sheffield United Stadium by Mark Hawksworth - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
