11 March 2022
|
Scottish soldier Sir Fitzroy MacLean was born - On this day in history
Scottish soldier Sir Fitzroy MacLean, the man who reputedly inspired Ian Fleming's James Bond character, was born on 11 March 1911. ...
On this day in 1911, Sir Fitzroy MacLean, the man said to have inspired Ian Fleming's James Bond character, was born. Maclean was the son of Scottish nobleman Major Charles Wilberforce MacLean, whose ancestral home was Duart Castle on the Isle of Mull.
Fitzroy MacLean was one of the founders of the SAS and during World War Two, was selected by Churchill to parachute into German-occupied Yugoslavia and gain Allied support.
On retirement, MacLean wrote extensively on Scottish history and became patron of a Strachur and District Shinty Club. He ammassed a large library of books, including early editions of James Bond novels.
Sir Fitzroy MacLean timeline
- 11 March 1911 - Born in Cairo
- 1932 - Graduated from Kings College, Cambridge
- 1937 - Posted to Moscow with the Diplomatic Service, the start of years of exploration of the country.
- 1939 - Resigned from the Diplomatic Service to join the army at the outbreak of World War II and quickly promoted to Lance Corporal
- 1947 - Appointed Major General
- 1959 to 1974 - Acted as MP for Bute and North Ayrshire
- 1994 - Appointed a knight of the most ancient and most noble order of the thistle
- 15 June 1996 - Died in Hertford at the age of 85.
Subscribe to History Scotland magazine today - enjoy Scottish history at home and have your magazine delivered straight to your door while saving money. Click here to claim this offer.
