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The Munro family can be traced back to the 11th century when they were vassals of the Earl of Ross and held lands on the north shore of Cromarty Firth. Donald Munro was living in 1025, and George Munro in 1101; Hugh Munro was the first Baron of Foulis and he died c1126. The names of the succeeding barons are known, but with little additional information until George Munro, 5th Baron, (died c1269) who witnessed a charter by William, Earl of Sutherland in favour of the Archdeacon of Moray and whose Ross-shire lands were confirmed in a charter by King Alexander II at some point before 1249. The 6th Baron, Robert (died 1323) declared for Robert Bruce in 1290 and fought at the Battle of Bannockburn where his son, George, was killed. He was succeeded by his grandson, George, who continued to support Bruce and died at the Battle of Halidon Hill in 1333. Robert, the 8th Baron, and George, the 10th Baron, and his eldest son were all killed in local clan battles supporting their feudal superior, the Earl of Ross (of whom the Munros became independent after his forfeiture in 1476, holding their lands directly of the crown). Sir William Munro, the 12th Baron was Justiciar in the early part of the reign of King James IV, and Robert, the 14th Baron, was killed at the Battle of Pinkie in 1547.
Colonel Hector Munro of Foulis, 19th Baron, was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia with remainder to his male heirs whatsoever in 1634. He spent most of his military career fighting on the continent in Denmark and in Germany under Gustavus Adophus. His son, also Hector, died in 1651and the title reverted to Sir Robert Munro, 3rd Baronet, of Obsdale, Sir Hector's second cousin who had married the 1st Baronet's sister, Jean. He also had a distinguished military career before succeeding to the Baronetcy and residing at Foulis where he was prominent in not conforming to episcopacy. He was appointed one of the commissioners for the shire of Sutherland for the Committee of War in 1643, MP for Inverness-shire in 1649 and held office as sheriff-principal of Ross-shire. The 4th Baronet, Sir John Munro (died 1697), was known as the 'Presbyterian Mortar-piece' due to his physical size as well as his entrenched beliefs. King William III granted a charter of confirmation in favour of Sir Robert Munro, the 5th Baronet, of the lands and barony of Foulis with his other estates. He was also MP for Ross-shire 1697-1702.
Sir Robert Munro, 6th Baronet, served in the Royal Scots under the Duke of Marlborough and was a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Black Watch. At the Battle of Fontenoy in May 1745 the Black Watch were the first on the field and the rearguard of the British retreat. Sir Robert was appointed to succeed General Ponsonby in command of the 37th Regiment and was killed at the Battle of Falkirk in 1746. The 7th Baronet, Sir Harry Munro (died 1781), lived a more peaceful life, dedicating 30 years spare time to a critique of Buchanan's 'Psalms of David'. He also entailed his estates in favour of certain female heirs. He was succeeded by his son, Sir Hugh (1763-1848) who left as his sole heiress a daughter, Mary Seymore Munro. The baronetcy therefore passed to Sir Charles Munro, 9th Baronet (1795-1886), eldest son of George Munro of Culcairn and Culrain, who served under the Duke of Wellington in the Peninsular Campaign and was described by him as 'one of the bravest officers in the British army'. He also fought in the War of Independence in South America, serving under General Simon Bolivar in 1818. Sir Hector Munro, 11th Baronet, (1848-1935) attained the rank of Colonel commanding the Seaforth Highlanders in 1885; he was also ADC to King George V, a JP for Ross-shire and Provincial Grand Master of Ross and Cromarty. His eldest son died in infancy and his second son was killed in action in 1918, so the succession passed to his cousin, Sir George Munro (1864-1945), an accountant, and then to his brother, Sir Arthur Munro (1866-1953). His son, Sir Kenneth Munro (born 1910), succeeded as 16th Baronet.
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