Born the son of a crofter on the 13th of April 1853 at Rootfield, his father's croft near Mulbuie, Black Isle, Hector MacDonald rose through the ranks of the British army to become a hero. He was raised as a crofter, but grew tired of the work in his eary teens, and moved to Inverness for work.

He started working for Royal Clan & Tartan Warehouse and enlisted in the Merchant Company, part of the Highland Rifle Volunteers. In 1870 he enlisted in the 92nd Gordon Highlanders by lying to the recruitment officer about his age. During his time in the army he served in India, Afghanistan, South Africa and the Egyptian-Sudan and quickly rose to the rank of Major. He became known as the Hero of Omdurman, when he and his troops disobeyed his orders after spotting an attack force advancing on his commanding officers position at the main line. In 1900 he was promoted to Major-General and served in South Africa, with the Highland Brigade. In 1901 he was awarded a knighthood to become Major-General Sir Hector MacDonald.

He went to serve in Ceylon in 1902, but his fellow officers weren't happy they were serving with a meager crofters son. In 1903, a story appeared in the Times of Ceylon suggesting that MacDonald was Homosexual, and according to some historians it was his fellow officers who submitted the story to the paper: -

" Dearest Mab, Do you really mean to say that, besides your-self three ladies (all up country ones, too) were the only ones who went to see our new General arrive?... Then, dear, you know we heard a whispered rumour that he does not like ladies, and possibly may have been pleasently surprised when he had dropped on a spicy little Isle where ladies are far and few between." - Times of Ceylon 1903

The story travelled the British empire and many became convinced it was true. He returned to Britain to seek the help of the King, who irdered him to return to Ceylon where he was to face a court martial. On his way back to Ceylon he stopped in Paris, he awoke one morning and went downstairs for breakfast where he saw a fresh story in the paper about him. He then returned to his room where he shot himself in the head.

It is still unknown if there was any truth to these accusations, but there is some evidence showing he had a wife and children which he kept secret, as this was not allowed. Many historians think it was just a result of jealousy of his success.

Between 1904 and 1907 the Hector MacDonald Monument was built on Mitchell Hill in Dingwall and is now at the centre of Mitchell Hill Cemetry.