the naming and registration of official clan tartans began on 8 april 1815, when the highland society of london (founded 1778) resolved that all the clan chiefs each "be respectfully solicited to furnish the society with as much of the tartan of his lordship's clan as will serve to show the pattern and to authenticate the same by attaching thereunto a card bearing the impression of his lordship's arms." many had no idea of what their tartan might be, but were keen to comply and to provide authentic signed and sealed samples. alexander macdonald, 2nd baron macdonald was so far removed from his highland heritage that he wrote to the society: "being really ignorant of what is exactly the macdonald tartan, i request you will have the goodness to exert every means in your power to obtain a perfectly genuine pattern, such as will warrant me in authenticating it with my arms."