38611: Malcolm Macaulay

Calum Iain Mhurchaidh

Malcolm (1892-1961) was a son of John Macaulay and Isabella Matheson, 19 Brenish.

He emigrated to Argentina where he spent the rest of  his life.

The following tribute appeared on page 6 of the Stornoway Gazette of 23 January 1962:

A Friend's Tribute. – Unexpected news of the death of Malcolm Macaulay in Argentine caused 
much grief to his sister and brother in Stornoway, and sadness to his relatives and acquaintances
in Uig and elsewhere. Born in 1892, the elder son and fourth member of the family of the late
John and Isabella Macaulay, 19 Breanish, he started his schooling in the Islivig Public School,
where, at an early age, he gave promise of doing well.

Winning the County Competitive Bursary, he entered the Nicolson Institute, Stornoway, where he
remained for some years. but, apparently, learning was not his chief ambition, and he left the
Nicolson Institute. After a period at home, he emigrated to the Argentine in 1913, where he was
employed in various jobs, including office work and ranching.

In recognition of his general ability, discretion and integrity, the company employing him
promoted him to the high rank of manager of a newly established Estancia in the foothills of the
Andes range of mountains. This Estancia carried a sheep stock of 140,000, and 30,000 head of
Hereford cattle, a big responsibility for any one man. He held this position for twelve years.

In further recognition of his services the company built for him a house to his own design. In this
house he entertained the then Argentine Home Secretary. Needless to say, the Home Secretary
expressed great surprise to learn that his host had come from one of the rugged Hebridean Isles
of Scotland.

The news of his death was transmitted from Buenos Aires by a director of the company 
employing Mr Macaulay. He passed away through the night of December 16th, 1961, of a heart
attack. Though many of his contemporaries have passed beyond the veil, there are still a goodly
number left who remember him well as a reliable and staunch friend.

His letters gave the impression that he was always in robust health and never had any serious
illness, so that the suddenness of his death was a big shock to his only surviving sister and
brother in Stornoway, to whom the sympathy of the district is extended.