biography
| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (1826–83)
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| biography:
| Manservant, born in Crathie, Deeside, NE Scotland, UK. He was raised on a farm, and was employed at Balmoral Castle at the time of its purchase (1852) by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. He was ghillie to Albert and favourite servant to Victoria, and after Albert's premature death (1861) he became a great support to the grieving queen. She came to depend on him as loyal servant, groom, and friend, and awarded him two medals in recognition of his devoted service. But the unlikely relationship fuelled gossip, and he became resented by the royal family and gained many enemies. He died at the age of 56 as the result of a chill. In his memory, Victoria commissioned a life-sized statue of him to be erected in the grounds of Balmoral. After her death (1901), her son Edward VII had the statue removed from public view. |
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