[4] He was abroad at the time of his father's death, but in 1767 he presented a petition to the King, praying His Majesty to declare and establish his right and title to the honor of Lord Kirkcudbright.
[5] A petition of John MacLellan, Esquire; a lieutenant in the 30th Regiment of Foot, claiming the title and honors of Lord Kirkcudbright [xxiii.
], was heard before the House of Lords, Palace of Westminster, London, England on 15 March 1773, and some days afterward; and, on 3 May the claim was sustained.
[11][12] In March 1781 the 3rd Buffs, 19th Foot, and the 30th embarked at Monkstown, County Cork, Ireland, for America, and reached Charleston on 3 June 1781, 68 days after starting.
[13] He died on 24 December 1801 at his residence on Hereford Street, South Kensington, London, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Sholto Henry MacLellan.