!SOURCE: Rev. Dr. Donald MacKinnon and Alick Morrison, THE MACLEODS:
THE GENEALOGY OF A CLAN, Section III, "MacLeod Cadet Families",
Edinburgh, The Clan MacLeod Society, 1970, p. 194.
Norman... is on record in 1790 as tacksman of Gillen. He was also,
according to Lt.-Col. John MacInnes, the last of the ''Clan mhic Uilleim'' to
hold the tack of Borline. He was appointed Ensign in the 78th
Highlanders in 1793: Lieutenant in 1794 and took part in the Expedition
against the Dutch in the Cape of Good Hope in 1794. In 1799, he was
transferred to the 4th Foot and served in Holland in the Helder
Expedition. In July 1803, he was removed to the 95th Regiment and took
part in the Capture of Buenos Aires in South America. Again he was
despatched to the Cape of Good Hope in 1806 and again to South America,
where he served with great gallantry under General Whitelocke. In 1809
he served with considerable distinction in the Peninsular War and was
actually chosen by Sir John Moore to cover his retreat to Corunna. He took
part in that memorable victory against Marshal Soult. For his
gallant servies he receivd the companion of the Bath (C.B.). In the same
year, he raised the 3rd Battalion of the Rifle Brigade, was promoted to
Lt.-Colonel, Brevet and exchanged into the Royals on the 29th March
1810. He was now despatched to India and served with distinction in the
Mahratta Wars. He was present in the actions at Mahidpore and
Mundesore where Holkar surrendered in 1817. In 12 days, he and his
troops covered 230 miles to reach Nagpur, in the siege of which Lt.-Col.
Norman MacLeod and the 2nd Battalion of His Majesty''s Royal Scots under
his immediate command, earned the highest praise from Gen. Sir Thomas
Hislop, Bart. For his services, he was promoted Colonel and on 12th August
1819, Major General.
Handsome, dashing and attractive, he won his bride by singing a Gaelic song
(of which she did not understand one word) and dancing a Highland reel.
The bride was Lady Hester Annabella Annesley, daughter of Arthur, 1st
Earl of Mount Norris, by Lucy, daughter and eventual heiress of George, 1st
Lord Lyttleton. The marriage took place on the 14th December 1801 and
there was issue.
Major-General Norman MacLeod, C.B., was lost in the wreck of a
steamer when crossing from England to Ireland in March 1831. His wife,
Lady Hester Annabella, died at the baths of Lucca in Italy on 14th August
1844 aged 63 years.