Donald McBane

Donald McBane (1664 – 12 April 1732) was a noted Scottish swordsman, career soldier, and fencing master, who is widely regarded as one of the most prolific and finest duelists of all time.

[2] He indulged in some fighting between the clans of Macdonald and Macintosh, who used sword and targe, Lochaber axes, and wooden-handled bayonets in the muzzle of the guns.

McBane still did not want to carry on with his apprenticeship, and so with his mother's blessing, twenty shillings and a new suit of clothes, he set out to seek his fortune.

McBane became an assiduous student at a French school (in Dublin) where sword and foil often clashed until blood was drawn, and then a drink or two re-sealed friendship.

McBane was quick to sense the opportunity of setting up a school for teaching the art of swordsmanship, and he established a good business after beating a score of duels with rival fencing masters, as well as a few murders "tolerated by their officers".

[2] While managing the school, McBane came to know that there was four good swordsmen in the Town that kept all the women, Rota Fortunae, and Ledgerdemain (card tricks) by which they got a lot of money.

[2] As a career soldier, he served throughout much of Europe, fighting in The War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714), and taking part in fifteen skirmishes and sixteen battles, including Blenheim (1704) and Malplaquet (1709).

[2] By the time of the Jacobite Rising of 1715, he was serving as a sergeant in General Honeywood’s Regiment of Dragoons and guarded the Colours at the Battle of Preston.

[2] His autobiography mentions that at one point he had the command responsibility equivalent to a Colonel of Artillery, but it is unlikely he ever received an officer's commission.

His Colonel made several recommendations for McBane to 'Chailcie College' (The Royal Hospital Chelsea), something only open to senior non-commissioned or warrant officers.

[6] The book includes McBane's memoirs as well as his extensive treatise on the art of fencing, and is a major source for the study of Scottish swordsmanship.