Bagpipes take the streets of Chile

[hospitaller]

I am late to this thread but just joined so excuse my tardiness.

Contrary to popular belief, not all south americans are mexicans, and not all south american countries are made of 'natives' (I have experienced both myself).

So with that said, roughly 20% of all 18th and 19th century immigration to Chile came from Scotland. The unofficial Chilean Tartan is the Cochrane Tartan.

There are large groups of Lyon, MacKay, Cumming, Cochrane, Lynch, MacIntosh, MacIver and Young families (me being one of the Youngs).

So important for Chile was the influx and influence of Scots that Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald (Lord Cochrane) himself was the Admiral of the First Chilean Navy during the Independence War against Spain in the 1810's. After Chile became independent, he also helped cement the Navy as a permanent branch of the new country's military.

During the War of the Pacific (1879-1882), Rear Admiral Patricio Lynch (served in the Royal Navy during the First Opium War) among other feats, was the chilean equivalent of General Sherman and performed a similar mission to the latter's Sherman's March.

In short, even though there are no organized Clans or Highland Games, there is a very active Scottish segment in Chilean society. Lots of rugby teams, a famous Country Club and Golf Course, etc.

And of course, the Andes Highlanders Pipe Band