 Cameron was born in Inverness-shire, Scotland, the eldest child of William Cameron (b.4 February 1806 at Abertarff) of Upper Muckovie, near Culloden by Croy, by his wife (m. 16 June 1840), Catherine Cameron (b.22 January 1809), daughter of Ewen Cameron (1775–1842), a farmer and kinsman of Tomchrasky, Glen Moriston and Helen McDonnell (1776–1861).