Clan Maclean Heritage Trust

On 7 June 2009 a memorial plaque was unveiled at the University of Sydney, Australia, commemorating Dr Archibald Lang McLean (1885 – 1922), who had a brief but outstanding life as a doctor, scientist, writer, soldier and explorer. Among other things, he was the Chief Medical Officer on the Mawson expedition to Antarctica (1911 – 14).

Next year will mark the centenary of the beginning of this expedition, which departed from Hobart on 2 December 1911. Fascinating photographs of this expedition held in the National Library of Australia can be viewed here.

Alexander Maclean Sinclair

On 16 May 2009 a symposium on the influences and legacy of the historian Alexander Maclean Sinclair was held at St Francis Xavier University Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada, as part of the weekend celebrating the 30th anniversary of the formation of Clan Maclean Atlantic (Canada). This was co-sponsored by the Trust with the Celtic Studies Department of the University and Clan Maclean Atlantic Canada, and attended by the Chief.

Dr. John Campbell Sinclair and Dr. Alasdair MacLean Sinclair, PhD, grandsons of Alexander Maclean Sinclair, gave presentations on his early years and on his "Macleanery" respectively. From St. Francis Xavier University Dr. Michael Linkletter, PhD, Professor of Celtic Studies, discussed his character and teaching skills; Dr. Ken Nilsen, PhD, Chair of Celtic Studies, spoke about D.M. Sinclair (son of AMS) and his continuation of his father's work; and Susan Cameron, MLIS, Celtic Collection Librarian, gave an introduction to the Alexander MacLean Sinclair collection at the St. Francis Xavier Library.

Dr Steve MacLean, astronaut

During the same weekend, Ian Maclean, President of Clan Maclean International Association, Past President of Clan Maclean Atlantic (Canada) and a Trustee of Clan Maclean Heritage Trust, presented to the Trust, represented by the Chief, a framed collage of memorabilia inspired by Dr Steve McLean, the Canadian astronaut and the first Maclean in space. This will be displayed at Duart Castle.

Steve MacLean was born on December 14, 1954, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He specialised in laser physics and received his Doctorate in Physics from York University in Toronto, Ontario in 1983. He taught part-time at York University from 1980 until 1983, and then became a visiting scholar at Stanford University under the renowned laser physicist and Nobel Laureate A.L. Shawlow.

Selected as one of the first six Canadian astronauts in December 1983, Dr MacLean began astronaut training in February 1984. From October 22 to November 1, 1992, Steve MacLean flew onboard Space Shuttle Columbia as a Payload Specialist for Mission STS-52. He went into space for the second time on Mission STS-115 in September 9 – 21, 2006. On this mission, Steve MacLean also became the second Canadian (and first Maclean) to walk in space. Dr. MacLean is now President of the Canadian Space Agency. For further information, see his CSA biography.

Postscript: in February 2013 Dr MacLean stepped down as head of the Canadian Space Agency and joined a new private sector agency, where he will lead a team pursuing scientific research and development in the field of quantum physics (see here).