James Loch

James Loch (7 May 1780 – 28 June 1855) was a Scottish estate commissioner and later a Member of Parliament.

Early life

Loch was born near Edinburgh in 1780. After his father's death in 1788, he lived on the Blair Adam estate with his uncle.

Estate commissioner

Loch studied law in Edinburgh Loch. After his studies, he became the estate commissioner to the Marquis of Stafford later the Duke of Sutherland. Although not the instigator he is most known for the Highland Clearances, the often forcible resettlement of tenant farmers on the coast of Sutherland which he justified in his publication 'Account of the improvements on the estate of the Marquis of Stafford' of 1820.

For much of his life, according to John Prebble, in his book "The Highland Clearances", Loch worked to effect the clearances and "to so mould and control the lives of 'the ignorant and credulous people' that at one time the young among them had to go to his agents for permission to marry". According to Loch's writings, "In a few years the character of the whole of this population will be completely changed... The children of those who are removed from the hills will lose all recollection of the habits and customs of their fathers".

The manner in which the evictions were carried out could be exceedingly harsh, particularly in the valley of Strathnaver. As reported in John Prebble's book, an eye witness, Angus Mackay, commented that 'It would be a very hard heart but would mourn to see the circumstances of the people... you would have pitied them, tumbling on the ground and greeting, tearing the ground with their hands...'

James Loch's policies were at times carried out in a reckless manner. The process of eviction often involved setting fire to houses while their occupiers were still inside them. Able-bodied persons had to flee from the flames, often losing most of their possessions to the fire. Elderly and infirm persons sometimes lost their lives. Women and children were not spared the harshness of the evictions. In many cases, women were the ones who resisted the evictions, perhaps in the belief that the courts would protect them.

On one occasion, a factor at the Sutherland estate, Patrick Sellar, was tried for the unlawful killing of an elderly woman, Margaret Mackay. She apparently suffered burns and died as a result of the eviction. The courts were slow to prosecute him and quick to eliminate witnesses and in the end Patrick Sellar was acquitted.

Later life

Loch died in 1855 and is buried in Brompton Cemetery, London.