About the Book
Seton Gordon was born in 1886 into an Aberdeenshire family and was to live to the age of 91. In that time his life spanned some of the most momentous changes in civilisation and yet his travels rarely took him away from Scotland for long. He dedicated his life to natural history and in his awareness of the environment he was ahead of his time. He wore the kilt as everyday dress and entered college in 1908 to take a degree in natural sciences at Exeter College, Oxford. Whilst there he befriended the Prince of Wales, who was to correspond with him after he left university. In later life he also corresponded with Ramsay MacDonald. He spent hours roaming the hills of Deeside and the Cairgorm plateau while observing nature and would sustain incredible hardships in pursuit of his favourite bird, the golden eagle. He became engaged to Audrey Pease in 1915 and after marriage, they moved to the Isle of Skye where they settled in Trotternish and where he began to write on all aspects of Highland and Hebridean life.
Over the years he produced prose which managed to place man in his proper context in the environment, and these books inspired countless numbers to look to the hills and corries in search of Scotland's wilderness areas. His ethereal descriptions of the Western Isles, whether in sun or in rain, a but the real contribution of are perhaps his most finely observed pieces but the real contribution of his 28 books and numerous articles and papers was to the sum of knowledge on the natural history of the Highlands and Islands. He will be remembered by all who knew him, read him and heard him speak as one of the last great Highland gentlemen. Raymond Eagle first met Seton Gordon in Skye in 1949 and was to correspond with him for a number of years. After Eagle moved to Vancouver in 1967, a chance encounter led him to meet Seton's son, Alasdair who had lived in the city for several years. With Alasdair's help, Eagle set out to write this biography which was published in print format in 1990. This is a complete revised Ebook edition with numerous colour and black and white illustrations.
Table of Contents:
Foreword Preface Chapter 1 A DEESIDE CHILDHOOD History of Gordon and Paul families - William and Ella Mary Gordon - Seton Gordon's childhood and youth on Deeside and early interest in nature - influence of Deeside stalkers and pipers - young adulthood - exploring Cairngorms - first articles and book published - bird watching - interest in railways with Malcolm Barclay-Harvey. Chapter 2 FROM THE COUROUR BOTHY TO OXFORD HONOURS Exeter College, Oxford - continuing field trips to Deeside and Cairngorms - meeting with Prince Felix Youssoupoff - visits to Braemar Castle, Highland home of Princess Dalgorouky - golf at Oxford - friendship with Edward, Prince of Wales - meeting with Audrey Pease - second book published - visit to Russia - Forestry studies, Scotland and France - outings and field studies with Audrey Pease. Chapter 3 WARTIME ADVENTURES ON THE WEST COAST WWI begins - historic correspondence with Edward, Prince of Wales in early war weeks - accepted as ambulance driver, then given job as Chief Coast-Watcher on West of Scotland coast - recruiting and organizing coast-watchers - Oxford in wartime - increasing interest in classical pipe-music while visiting John Johnston, an old coast-watcher on Coll - Letters from friend and brother-in-law, Cuthbert Pease - Cuthbert's death in action - Seton Gordon promoted and transferred to 10th Cruiser Squadron - meets Osgood MacKenzie of Inverewe - transferred to Naval Light Force, Tynemouth then to Kingstown, Ireland - letters from John Johnston, Coll - WWI ends - travels in Ireland. Chapter 4 BIRDS, ISLANDS AND BAGPIPES Early days of Peace - concerns over employment - intensive birdwatching leads to increasing output of articles and publication of third book - first trip to Outer Hebrides - studies on island of Mingulay - more letters from Johnston - attends Northern Meeting (piping competition) - piping correspondent for newspapers - postscript on Johnston - joins 1921 Oxford University Spitsbergen Expedition as official photographer. Chapter 5 CAIN AND ABLE AT THE EYRIE Friendship with Edward Grey of Fallodon - further visit to Outer Hebrides - examination of their culture and influence on Seton Gordon, especially Carmichael's Carmina Gadelica - witnesses large emigration to Canada from Isles - begins lectures to schools and clubs - death of William Gordon - Seton becomes property owner - intensive study of eagle eyrie and birds of South Uist - corresponds with keepers and landowners for information on eagles in preparation for first book on that bird - becomes piping judge. Chapter 6 THE CUILLINS BECKON Seton Gordon's interest in Skye begins, rents lodge for long stay on island - climbs Cuillin peaks and explores island - meets principal families, MacLeods of Dunvegan and MacDonalds of Sleat - interest in pipes increases - examination of Highland history after the '45 and its aftermath - an unusual letter - Immortal Isles published - visits St Kilda - Seton and Audrey do more exploring of Inner Hebrides - Charm of Skye published - night storm in the Cuillin. Chapter 7 SKYE ROAD IMPROVEMENTS Begins corresponding with Ramsay MacDonald - examines artifacts at Dunvegan Castle - Seton and Audrey explore Kinlochmoidart and Glenfinnan, his interest in Prince Charles Edward Stuart and the '45 Rebellion is aroused - Sir Norman MacLeod dies and Seton secures Angus MacPherson of Invershin as pipers for funeral - diary entry shows Seton's increasing love of the west - decision to purchase Upper Duntuilm, on Skye - an examination of other writers and the influence of the Cuillin Hills on them - a walk on the historic track from Inverailort to Kinlochmoidart. Chapter 8 HIGHWAYS BYWAYS AND A NEW FRIENDSHIP Seton Gordon commissioned to write a Highways and Byways book, and begins correspondence with his illustrator, Sir DY Cameron - a letter from James MacKillop of Islay on the historic pipes at Dunvegan - purchase of Lancia motor car - Seton and Audrey explore Ardnamurchan - Borreraig Cairn is dedicated to MacCrimmon pipers - Duke and Duchess of York tour Skye and visit Upper Duntuilm - friendship begins with Francis Cameron-Head of Inverailort - Edward Grey of Fallodon dies - Seton and Audrey attend Roscoff Festival in Brittany - John MacDonald broadcasts pipe music for the empire - piping anecdotes. Chapter 9 FROM THE HIGHLANDS TO A WELSH ISLAND More correspondence with Ramsay Macdonald on state of Skye roads - death of Sir Reginald MacLeod of MacLeod, Dame Flora thanks Seton for help at funeral - Seton and Audrey have adventurous trip to Atlantic seal nursery - some anecdotes on the Gordon's farm help, John Graham - Jonathan MacDonald on Seton's daily swim in the Minch - the Gordons help local fisherman after storm smashes their boats - 1937 visit to writer R.M. Lockley on the Welsh island of Skokholm - Ramsay MacDonald dies - Caitriona goes to Germany - correspondence on piping with John Macdonald of Inverness - Seton and artist Jack Harrison spend time in Iceland, 1938. Chapter 10 WAR LOOMS ONCE MORE War looms again - expeditions with Francis Cameron in readiness for next Highways and Byways book - Seton's younger friends, Viscount Fincastle and Hamish MacDonald of Sleat prepare for war with their Territorial battalions - Adam Watson writes to Seton and receives encouragement to study natural history - WWII begins, travel restrictions in Highland and Islands - old Highland homes ruined in wartime - death on active service of young friends - the Gordons' daughters sign up for duty. Chapter 11 NATURE TALKS TO THE ARMED FORCES Seton Gordon commences weather observing for RAF - Francis Cameron-Head marries - Seton lectures on battleships - Audrey joins scientific research team in London - Seton lectures at RAF stations around Hebrides - Seton and Adam Watson meet - a Flying Fortress crashes on Skye - the Gordon's son, Alasdair sees action in Holland. Chapter 12 PEACE RETURNS ONCE MORE Peace comes again - Seton's concern for effects of hydro dams - 200th anniversary of raising the Jacobite Standard at Glenfinnan is celebrated - Francis Cameron-Head is inspired to hold a Highland Gathering there which becomes an annual event - painter/illustrator Sir DY Cameron dies - Seton and Audrey begin an eight year study of a golden eagle eyrie - Seton flies to Rockall and St Kilda in Sunderland flying boat, courtesy of the RAF - more expeditions with Francis Cameron-Head, to Iona and Ben Alder in search of relics of the '45 Rebellion - Seton begins international correspondence on the plight of golden eagles - the Gordons commence eight year study of a Skye golden eagle pair - Colonel Jock Macdonald comes home to Skye - Seton travels to Lochmore, home of Bendor, Duke of Westminster - 1949, Alwyne Farquharson elected chief of that Clan, Seton is frequent guest at the Castle of Invercauld - the Gordons visit Switzerland. Chapter 13 THE 1745 REBELLION COMMEMORATED Fame comes to Dame Flora MacLeod with article on Skye Week in 1952 National Geographic Magazine - Seton honoured as Chief of the Day at Glenfinnan Gathering - Highlands of Scotland published - Seton and Audrey have near-accident with car, while he watches golden eagles flying over - more international correspondence on the state of golden eagles - eight years of golden eagle eyrie observation ends with publication of The Golden Eagle-King of Birds - the Queen comes to Skye - Francis Cameron-Head dedicates memorial cairn at Loch nan Uamh, where Prince Charles Edward Stuart departed from Scottish soil - Francis Cameron-Head dies. Chapter 14 A TIME FOR SADNESS AND A TIME FOR JOY Seton and Audrey act as nature interpreters on National Trust of Scotland cruise, Audrey dies in her sleep at Fair Isle - Seton at Dalness, when friends, Follett Bell and Patrick Sandeman release sea eagles bought from Norway - Seton embarks on a second marriage to Betty Badger, who has a large estate, Biddlesden, in Northamptonshire - the Osprey returns to Scotland, Seton watches an eyrie at Loch Garten - he finds no snow in Garbh Choire Mor for the first time in living memory - epic walk in Cairngorms with Alwyne Farquharson of Invercauld - more Loch Ness and Loch Morar monster studies - Seton writes a short story. Chapter 15 THE GRAND OLD MAN OF NATURE Much travelling between Biddlesden and the Highlands - Balmoral piper Robert Brown, dies, Seton encourages fellow piper Robert Nicol to compose tune in his memory, with the full approval of Prince Charles - Seton still lectures and broadcasts in his late eighties and is seen as the 'grand old man of nature' - still judging with Colonel Jock Macdonald and Angus MacPherson of Invershin at the Glenfinnan Gathering, and in 1975 they all took part in TV programme on the event - 11 April 1976, 90th birthday celebrations and recognition from many people - Flora MacLeod dies, Seton attends funeral and writes obituary. Seton Gordon died on 18 March 1977, two weeks short of his 91st birthday. Appendices Bibliography Illustrations Books written by Seton Gordon Author biography Copyright page
About the Author :
Author Raymond Eagle, FSA. Scot is a Scottish historian with more than fifty published articles on various aspects of Scottish history to his credit. Two other biographies, published in Canada are In the Service of the Crown covering the life of Brigadier the Hon. Henry Bell-Irving DSO and bar, a Canadian war hero who led the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada from central Italy to Holland in WWII. He was also British Columbia's 23rd Lieut. Governor; and Don't Tell My Mother - Or How to Fight Wars On Your Own Terms co-authored with the late Peter Duggan-Smith, DFC whose incredible 'seat of the pants' long and adventurous flying career is described in this humourous book. Though born in Eastleigh, Hampshire in 1931 the author was drawn to Scotland at a very early age and began visiting there immediately following the end of WWII when travel restrictions to the Highlands were lifted. He has returned regularly ever since, for the past 45 years from Vancouver, Canada. He first met Seton Gordon on Skye in July 1949 and found him to be very approachable and generous with his time. He had just returned from observing a Golden Eagle eyrie that he studied regularly for a full eight years and he described in some detail that day's observations. Through the Simon Fraser University's Centre for Scottish Studies and the University Pipe Band's Highland Arts Festivals, Raymond Eagle has been a guest lecturer on Scottish history both on campus and at universities in Chicago, Illinois and Montcalm, New Jersey.
