The Chiefship of the Clan
The first chief of the name that we have any definite proof of was Iain or John Macquarrie of Ulva, who died around 1473. Histories speak of chiefs leading the clan earlier on, however. Hector MacQuarrie of Ulva supported the Bruce at Bannockburn and even earlier, during the reign of Alexander II, in 1249, Cormac Mor, chief of Ulva, supported the king against Norwegian invaders and was killed by Haco of Norway. The histories speak of the activities of various later chiefs, although I do not have a chronological outline of all MacQuarrie chiefs (does anyone?).
The last MacQuarrie chief was Lauchlan MacQuarrie of Ulva who was born in 1715 and died in 1818 at Glenforsa in Mull, at the age of 103.
The status of the chief of any clan must be approved through the Lord Lyon King of Arms in Scotland. Lord Lyon has declared that a clan with a dormant chiefship may install a cean-cath, or Commander of the clan, to rally the clan, convene meetings, etc. All members of the clan would treat him with the respect and honor worthy of his position, as if he had been selected by the chief to act as his representative in his absence. Such a Commander would need to be selected by the armigerous members of the clan and approved by Lord Lyon. To my knowledge, no one is being recommended for this position, either.
I propose it as a goal for the MacQuarrie clan in the 21st century to appoint a Commander and search for our hereditary chief.