Coire Gabhail by members of Clan Macdonald to hide cattle and other livestock, whether their own or stolen from others. Like other clans in the area, cattle were the mainstay of their economy, both herding and raiding: young men boastfully sang of getting cows from the Mearns. The wide flat glen is well suited for this purpose since from Glen Coe it appears to be a normal v-shaped glen approached only by a steep narrow gorge. The Macdonalds commonly had feuds with Clan Campbell. This culminated tragically in the 1692 massacre of Glencoe when Campbell soldiers turned on Macdonald clansfolk who fled
Archibald Campbell, 1st Duke of Argyll and was colonel-in-chief of the Earl of Argyll's Regiment of Foot, that was involved in the 1692 massacre of the MacDonalds of Glen Coe, but took no part in any of its field operations. He was made a duke in 1701. On 12 March 1678, he married Elizabeth Tollemache (daughter of Elizabeth and Sir Lionel Tollemache, 3rd Baronet at Edinburgh, Scotland. Elizabeth's stepfather John Maitland, 1st Duke of Lauderdale was a dominant figure in Scottish politics of the era. They had three children, born at Ham House outside London: The 1st Duke of Argyll is buried at Kilmun Parish Church.