MACBETH (or MACBEATITAD MACFINLEGII, as lie is called in cOntemporary chroni cles), a king of Scotland, immortalized by the genius of Shakespeare. Prom his father Finlegh, the son of Ruadhri, he inherited the rule of the province of Moray; and he became allied with the royal line by his marriage with Gruoch MacBoedlie, the grand. daughter of king Kennett) MaeDuff. In the year 1039 Ile headed an attack upon king Duncan MacCrinan, at a place called Botligouanan (the " Smith's Bothy"), where the king was mortally wounded, but survived to be carried to Elgin, in Moray. Macbeth now ascended the throne, and his reign of 17 years is commemorated in the chronicles as a time of plenty. He made grants to the Culdees of Loch Leven, and in the year 1050 went in pilgrimage to Rome. Malcolm MacDuncan, or Ccanmore, the eldest son of king Duncan MacCrinan, had fled to England on his father's death; and in the sum mer of 1054, his kinsman, Siward, earl of Northumberland, led an 'English army into Scotland against Macbeth. That king was defeated with great slaughter, but escaped front the field, and still kept the throne,. Four years afterwards, lie was again defeated by Malcolm MacDuncan, and fleeing northwards across the mountain-range since called the Grampians, lie was slain at Lm»plianan, in Aberdeenshire, on Dee. 5, 1056. His
followers were able to place his nephew, or step-son, Lulach, on the throne; and his defeat and death at Essie, in Strathbogie, on April 3, 1057, opened the succession to OIalgolm, who three weeks afterwards, was crowned at Scone. This is all that is cer ,,tainly known of the history of Macbeth. The fables which gradually accumulated round his name were systematized in the beginning of the 16th c. by the historian Hector Boece, from whose pages tlwy were transferred to the chronicle of Hollinshed, where they met the eye of Shakespeare. Nearly half a century before his great play was written, Buchanan had remarked how well the legend of Macbeth was fitted for the stage.
McCABE, JAMES D., Jn., b. Richmond, Va. about 1840; received his education at the Virginia military institute; began very early to write for the press, and during the rebellion employed his pen in the service of the confederacy. He has published a Life of Lieat.-Uen. T. J. Jackson, ft Memoir of Gen. A. S. Johnston, and The Life and Campaigns of Gen. R. E. Lee. He has also written mauy poems and short stories.