(4 Feb. 1864-18 Sept. 1914), clan chief. (date of death 18 Dec. 1914 also found) Born in GC. Parents: Neil John McGillivray and his wife Catherine Macdonell, who has been said to be a niece of Bishop Macdonell. John William McGillivray was baptized by the Rev. James Mair of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Martintown. He was educated in Canada and in Britain. On his father’s death in 1886 he inherited the Dunmaglass and Easter Aberchalder estates in Scotland, and became also chief of the Clan MacGillivray. Before his father’s death, he had joined the 2nd Battalion of the Cameron Highlanders. He left the army in 1889, with rank of captain. The financial troubles that had pressed on his father continued, and in 1890 John William had to sell the Dunmaglass and Easter Aberchalder estates. He served in the British North Borneo Constabulary, and was an indigo planter in India, and appears to have led a wandering life. He is said to have died in “a drab London work house.” Earlier in the year of his death, he was, if report is correct, destitute and sick with consumption. He appears to have been unmarried. His younger brother Angus (b. 24 Nov. 1866) is reported to have died, presumably without issue, in poverty in Australia earlier in the 20th century. The owner at that time of the Dunmaglass estate, a member of the Sopper family, sent money to Australia for Angus’ funeral expenses. With the death of John William, the best claim to the chiefship now rested in John Farquhar MacGillivray (1870-20 Aug. 1942), K. C., a Canadian lawyer who had the position of senior taxing officer at Osgoode Hall, and was the son of the Farquhar McGillivray who was the son of the Hon. John McGillivray. Technically, John Farquhar MacGillivray, K. C., ranked as the 14th chief, but he was apparently not interested in pursuing or upholding this honour. With his death, the chiefship was left vacant, and remains so to this day.

Robert McGillivray and George B. Macgillivray, A History of the Clan MacGillivray (1973) 53-57 (QF) * Mrs van Beek’s research (see notes to life of Hon. John McGillivray)