Revival of Clan
Strachan - Family Convention
At the request of the Court of the Lord Lyon, Lord Lyon, King of Arms in Edinburgh, the Society has been asked to identify leading members of the Family who are interested in attending a Derbhfine (aka "Family Convention").
Section I.
Introduction
Section II.
Attendee Qualifications
Section III. Chief
Candidates
Section IV. Schedule
Section V.
Attendee List
On the 3rd of February 1828, Sir Richard John Strachan, Bart., the last Chief of Clan Strachan died without male heir. Since then, no individual has come forth with a proven and documented blood line to the past Chief of Clan Strachan, nor has a Representer of a cadet line satisfactorily presented themselves to the Court of the Lord Lyon to claim the Baronetcy of Thornton and Chiefdom of Clan Strachan. With no legitimate claimant, the titles became dormant in 1854.
The Right Honourable, David Sellers, Lord Lyon King of Arms, has request the Society identify Leading Members of the Family of Strachan who are interested in attending a Family Convention (Derbhfine meeting) with the purpose if identifying a Commander. Said Commander would serve for 10 years in order to determine if a more legitimate claimant with genealogical lineage to the past Chief or a cadet branch can be identified. An heir with a proven blood line to the past Chief or a cadet branch would have a priority claim. Otherwise, after serving the 10 year term as Commander this individual would likely become hereditary Chief of Clan Strachan.
The Court of the Lord Lyon in Edinburgh has exclusive jurisdiction in this matter, and all attendees (and ultimately the Commander) must be found acceptable to the Officer of Arms, Court of the Lord Lyon.
The Lord Lyon has indicated that leading members of the family or name in question be admitted to the Family Convention. It appears this is defined as:
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Scottish Armigers, and those eligible to matriculate arms. Also, those with a petition pending for a new Grant of Arms or a Matriculation of Arms with the Court of the Lord Lyon. (born a STRACHAN)
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Scottish Landowners. (born a STRACHAN)
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Eminent men (or women), and prominent individuals such as academics, judges, barristers/attorneys, doctors, politicians, successful business persons, other professionals. (born a STRACHAN)
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The Lord Lyon has also indicated that, "... there must be flexibility here in defining a 'Leading Member'." This seems to indicate that croft holders, tenant farmers, members of the Society, and others will be evaluated by the Court of the Lord Lyon on a case-by-case basis.
Overseas participants outwith the jurisdiction (outside Scotland) may participate by video link or similar if unable to attend in person. In fact, the Court of the Lord Lyon desires a broad geographical representation of attendees at the Derbhfine.
Women who were born a Strachan, but have changed their surname (i.e., marriage) are also eligible to attend the Derbhfine.
It is anticipated that the number of attendees participating in a Derbhfine will be relatively small, of the order of 10 to 25 people.
Only one Attendee per family is permitted by consanguinity, including marriage, within the degree of first cousin.
Attendees are not required to file a formal petition. Documentation supporting any claims may, or may not be required by the Court of the Lord Lyon. Decisions to be determined by the Officer of Arms, Court of the Lord Lyon.
INTERESTED IN BEING PLACED ON THE
ATTENDEE LIST...
email
jim@clanstrachan.org
The Commander title is not inheritable. Subsequently, the proposed Commander should be sufficiently young enough to survive the 10 year waiting period.
According to the Lord Lyon, King of Arms, the proposed Commander MUST be an unopposed candidate, or one with substantial majority support of the Derbhfine Council.
Indications from the Lord Lyon, King of Arms is that the Commander should be a resident of Scotland.
The Commander, whomever that may be, would be required to obtain a new Grant of Arms, or a Matriculation of Scottish Armorial Bearings.
The Society encourages all interested parties who reside in Scotland to be open to the process of potentially becoming Commander of Clan Strachan. Simply making yourself open to the process of becoming Commander is no guarantee you will become Commander. This decision is ultimately determined by the Derbhfine attendees and the Court of the Lord Lyon.
INTERESTED IN BEING
PLACED ON THE ATTENDEE LIST...
email
jim@clanstrachan.org
Once all requirements are completed to the satisfaction of the Court of the Lord Lyon, the Derbhfine will be scheduled with a one year advance notification in order to allow maximum personal participation by overseas attendees. Overseas attendees may also participate by video link or similar. The meeting will likely be held at (or near) the Court of the Lord Lyon, New Register House, Edinburgh, Scotland.
The Derbhfine meeting should largely be ceremonial. In order to ensure the new Commander will have unanimous support of the Clan Strachan Derbhfine Council (or one with substantial majority support) the Society will hold a teleconference among the participants prior to scheduling a meeting. This informal gathering will determine who will merge as Commander. A meeting will only be scheduled in Edinburgh at the Court of the Lord Lyon if a majority consensus is made.
It is expected that this process of identifying a sufficient number of Derbhfine attendees and potential Chief candidates will likely take several years. Thank you for your patience.
There are a limited number of seats available for the Family
Convention. Below are individuals who expressed an
interest in attending.
| 1. |
 Mrs.
Quentin Alice Louise Bryce (nee Strachan), ACGovernor-General of Commonwealth of Australia |
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2. |
  James Andrew Strachan, FSA Scot, BA, MBA Co-Founder Clan Strachan Society Clan Strachan Armiger Owner/President, AEI Intelligent Technologies Temecula, CA USA |
| 3. |
 Lieutenant
Commander, William S. Strachan (RAN-RET)Member, Clan Strachan Society Clan Strachan Armiger Drummoyne, NSW, Australia - Bill will participate remotely via video link or similar. |
| 4. | Dennis Craig Strawhun Co-Founder & President, Clan Strachan Society Society has a PENDING petition for Arms at the Court of the Lord Lyon Carlsbad, CA USA |
| 5. | Dr. T. Martin Strahan, MB BS, DrPH, FRACP, FAFPHM, FACPM Member Clan Strachan Society Petition for Armorial Bearings is in queue at the Court of
the Lord Lyon. |
| 6. | Roderick Strachan, Baron of
Benholm Benholm Castle, Scotland Member Clan Strachan |
| 7. | Garry Strachan Cert. Genealogist. IHGS, Member AGRA, Member APG Clan Genealogist, Clan Strachan Society Daventry, England |
| 8. | Michael Strawhun, BA USAF, Civilian Firefighter US Forestry Service, Battalion Chief US Federal Wildland Fire Incident Command System (ICS) Incident Commander and an Operations Section Chief Clan Strachan Society, Member & Director, Newsletter Editor |
| 9. | Judy Strawn Who's Who Member & Director, Newsletter Editor, Clan Strachan Society Los Angeles, CA |
| 10. | Michael Strahan Vice President, Clan Strachan Society BA, MBA Fishers, IN USA |
| 11. | Dr. Lloyd W. Strachan BSA, MS, PhD Member Clan Strachan Society Ashton, ON Canada |
| 12. | Graham Strachan Tigh An Uillt, Dunmore, Beauly Inverness-Shire, Scotland |
| 13. | William 'David' Strachan,
(BSc
MA VetMB PhD MRCVS) Mill of Keig, Keig, Alford, Aberdeenshire Scotland |
| 14. | Charles Robert Lund (Rob) Strachan Eldest son of Benjamin & Lize Strachan Mill of Strachan Strachan near Banchory, Aberdeenshire Scotland |
| 15. | John Strachan Highlands Ranch, CO (USA) Member of the Society in Good Standing |
| 16. | Scott James Strachan - expressed
tentative interested Australia Member of the Clan Strachan Society |
| 17. | Michael G. Strachan -
unconfirmed Member of the Clan Strachan Society |
| 18. | John Stuart Strachan -
unconfirmed Scotland |
| 19. | TBD Status |
| 20. | TBD Status |
| 21. | TBD Status |
| 22. | TBD Status |
| 23. | TBD Status |
| 24. | TBD Status |
| 25. | TBD Status |
| 26. | TBD Status |
| 26. | TBD Status |