Clearances, The First Phase 1782-1820

1784-Forfeited Estates, administered by the government, are restored to their owners.

1785-First large clearances on the Glengarry estate.

1786-Large emigrations to Canada from Knoydart, on Glengarry's estate.

1790-Cheviot sheep introduced in the Highlands.

1800-First clearances in Sutherland.

1801-Evictions begin in Strathglass.

1807-Ninety families removed from parishes of Farr and Lairg.

1814-First clearance of Strathnaver.

1819-Final clearance of Strathnaver and Upper Kildonan.

1821-Riots and evictions at Gruids.

The Highland Clearances, The Second Phase

1842-First attempts to deliver writs of removal to the people of Glencalvie.

1845-Glencalvie cleared. Times sends special commissioner to report.

1846-Failure of the potato crop.

1846-Widespread famine in the Highlands (as in Ireland). Establishment of Destitution Relief Boards in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

1847-Food riots.

1849-Glenelg evictions. Sollas evictions.

1851-South Uist and Barra evictions.

1852-The Highland and Island Emigration Society formed. The Land and Emigration Commissioners offer ships and assistance.

1853-Last of the people in Boreraig and Suishnish on Skye cleared.

1854-Last evictions from the property of Robertson on Strathcarron.

1886-Crofter's Act passed.

1993-The 130 tenant residents of Assynt raise £130,000 and, with the assistance of various grants and loans, buy their 21,000-acre homeland when it goes up for sale by the landowner. The Assynt Crofters Trust is established to oversee the land, instead ofthe traditional laird. A spokesman for the trust states: "On the 1st February, 1993, we became the first crofting communities to take complete control of our land."

1997-The March 31, 1997, edition of The Scotsman reports:

"Captain Alwyne Farquharson, chief of the Clan Farquharson and 16th baron of Invercauld, is trying to evict Jean Lindsay and her son, Sandy, from the 2,500-acre hill farm she has farmed for 26 years in Glenshee. Capt Farquharson wants to extend the area available for grouse habitat--and at Kinwhirrie farm, near Cortachy, Lord Airlie wants to improve the pheasant shooting."

Some statistics:

Population of sheep in the Highlands in 1800:

377,790

Population of sheep in 1880:

over 2 million

Decrease in human population over same time period:

200,000