Dundonnachie and the Bridge Toll Riots of 1868

Dundonnachie as we know him was born Alexander Robertson on January 1^st, 1825. He was born in the Cross House (now the Dunkeld Mortgage house) and was one of six Alexander Robertsons in Dunkeld at the time. At the age of sixteen, after studying at the Royal School of Dunkeld, Dundonnachie became a Clerk at the Commercial Bank of Scotland in Tay Terrace.  Five years after this, he was appointed as the accountant of the commercial bank in Cromarty. In 1853 he began to publish works including one under the pseudonym R Allister entitled Barriers to the National Prosperity of Scotland. After this Dundonnachie became a rather successful businessman with several ventures under his belt. Predominately he was a merchant with a focus on coal, lime, potatoes and timber.

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Due to the bridge toll riots,  Dundonnachie is a well-remembered man within the Dunkeld area, the legacy of the struggle he led against the tolls is well documented.  Stephen Goodison one of Dunkeld Community Archive's recent 'Kickstarters' developed a short animation during his time  in post. There is also a children’s book of this film available to purchase from the archive or by contacting the Clan Secretary at the Clan Donnachaidh Society.

View the animation on You Tube below;

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