Maclean, Harry Aubrey de Vere
Early 20th Century photograph album, military manoeuvres, Morocco
£693
Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps & Photographs
Auction: 8 February 2023 at 10:00 GMT
Description
inscribed on front endpaper 'Souvenir of the Italian Mission June 1906 To Miss Maclean, very sincerely, John Martin Franklin', oblong 4to, 98 ?silver prints, each 8.5 x 8.5cm, showing Maclean on and observing military manoeuvres including cavalry charges, military encampments, camels, European and Moroccan military figures and dignitaries on horseback and on foot, masked Tuaregs on horseback and on foot, bridges, musicians, fort interiors, courtyards, small boats being embarked, horseback procession of dignitaries, contemporary vellum gilt binding by G. Glingler of Rome, album size 25 x 18cm, front endpaper loose
Footnote
Note:
The inscription on the front endpaper - 'Souvenir of the Italian Mission June 1906 To Miss Maclean, very sincerely, John Martin Franklin', indicates this was soon after the First Moroccan Crisis or the Tangier Crisis, an international crisis between March 1905 and May 1906 over the status of Morocco which led to the Algeciras Conference.
General (Kaïd) Sir Harry Aubrey de Vere Maclean, KCMG (15th June 1848 – 5th February 1920) was a Scottish soldier and instructor to the Moroccan Army. In 1876 he went to Morocco and began his career as an army instructor for Sultan Mulai Hassan. He gained the trust of the Sultan of Morocco and his successor Moulay Abdelaziz through his service and fought against opposing tribes throughout Morocco. During his career, he was kidnapped and held for ransom after a failed first attempt. He visited the forbidden city of Tafilalt, and eventually became commander of the Sultan of Morocco's Army.
Although he was loyal to his employer to a fault, he was regarded as an unofficial British agent in the United Kingdom. In June 1901 he was attached to a Special diplomatic mission from Morocco to the United Kingdom to congratulate King Edward VII on his recent accession, and the King appointed him a Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (KCMG) during the visit.
He was physically large and used this to his advantage when disciplining insubordinates. Although maintaining his Scottish personality and expert bagpiping skill, he adopted Moorish costume.
Various heirlooms of the Kaïd Sir Harry Maclean, including his ceremonial sword, pistol and Matriculation of Arms, are now housed for the Clan Maclean Heritage Trust at the Isle of Mull Museum. His portrait, by Sir John Lavery, hangs in the bar of the El Minzah Hotel in Tangier. Maclean is buried in the graveyard of St Andrew’s Church, Tangier.