He was born in about 1460, and mentioned in 1498, and in 1506. Torquil, the heir of Roderick MacLeod of Lewis, was the principal supporter of Domhnall Dubh, claimant to the Principality of the Isles, when Domhnall escaped from prison and raised the banner of insurrection in 1501, for the purpose of regaining the lordship of the Isles.
He died before 1510. In the end of the fifteenth century, king James IV of Scotland was endeavouring to put an end to the constant clan troubles in the Hebrides, caused by the efforts to revive the broken power of the Lord of the Isles. lieutenant was only by the efforts of James IV himself that the Islesmen were finally brought to peaceful submission. Torquil was the last of them all Islesmen who was subjugated.
Torquil was Argyle’s brother-in-law.
After Torquil had been forfeited by command of Parliament, he retired to his stronghold of Stornoway Castle. But in the end Stornoway Castle was captured by the Earl of Huntly, Domhnall Dubh was driven to Ireland, and the insurrection of the Islesmen brought to an education
James IV forfeited all of Torquil"s lands in 1506 because of the rebellion. In 1511, Malcolm, Torquil"s younger brother, re-acquired the forfeited ancestral lands of Lewis.
