Macrae Monument, Ayrshire

James Macrae (1677 to 1746) was most likely born in the parish of Ochiltree and escaped great poverty to become a sea captain and later an administrator who served as the Governor of Fort St George and in 1725 Governor of the Madras Presidency, modern day Chennai. He encountered the pirate Edward England and was noted for reforming the administration of Madras Presidency on behalf of the British East India Company. James returned from India with a fortune conservatively estimated at £100, 000. He died unmarried at Monkton House that he had purchased circa 1739 and renamed 'Orangefield' and was buried in 1748 at Monkton Churchyard in, for reasons that are not entirely clear, an unmarked grave. The Macrae MonumentLocated in a prominent position on the lands of Whiteside Farm overlooking Monkton this Corinthian style memorial was built between 1748 and 1750 for James Macrae by John Swan of Kilmaurs. The monument consists of a squared base topped by an obelisk with four shell ornamented alcoves, one on each side. Five urns carry carved eternal flames and each side carries carvings that may relate to his life and exploits such as dolphins, anchors, forts, ships, etc. It has also been suggested that the monument was built in memory of James Macrae by his friends.

James Macrae (1677 to 1746) was most likely born in the parish of Ochiltree and escaped great poverty to become a sea captain and later an administrator who served as the Governor of Fort St George and in 1725 Governor of the Madras Presidency, modern day Chennai. He encountered the pirate Edward England and was noted for reforming the administration of Madras Presidency on behalf of the British East India Company. James returned from India with a fortune conservatively estimated at £100, 000. He died unmarried at Monkton House that he had purchased circa 1739 and renamed 'Orangefield' and was buried in 1748 at Monkton Churchyard in, for reasons that are not entirely clear, an unmarked grave. The Macrae MonumentLocated in a prominent position on the lands of Whiteside Farm overlooking Monkton this Corinthian style memorial was built between 1748 and 1750 for James Macrae by John Swan of Kilmaurs. The monument consists of a squared base topped by an obelisk with four shell ornamented alcoves, one on each side. Five urns carry carved eternal flames and each side carries carvings that may relate to his life and exploits such as dolphins, anchors, forts, ships, etc. It has also been suggested that the monument was built in memory of James Macrae by his friends.