Jacobite Rising

Each Jacobite Rising formed part of a series of military campaigns by Jacobites attempting to restore the Stuart kings to the thrones of England and Scotland (and after 1707, Great Britain) after James VII of Scotland and II of England was deposed in 1688 and the thrones "usurped" by his daughter Mary II jointly with her husband William of Orange.

The "Young Pretender"

1744 French invasion attempt

During 1743 the War of the Austrian Succession drew Britain and France into open, though unofficial, hostilities against each other. Leading English Jacobites made a formal request to France for armed intervention and the French king's Master of Horse toured southern England meeting Tories and discussing their proposals. In November 1743 Louis XV of France authorised a large-scale invasion of southern England in February 1744 which was to be a surprise attack with troops marching from their winter quarters to hidden invasion barges which were to take them and Charles Edward Stuart with the guidance of English Jacobite pilots to Maldon in Essex where they were to be joined by local Tories in an immediate march on London. Charles, (later known as Bonnie Prince Charlie or the Young Pretender) who was in exile in Rome with his father (James Stuart, the Old Pretender) rushed to France.

Related Topics:
1743 - War of the Austrian Succession - Louis XV of France - 1744 - Charles Edward Stuart - Maldon - Essex - James Stuart, the Old Pretender

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As late as February 13 the British were still unaware of these intentions, and while they then arrested many suspected Jacobites the French plans really went astray on February 24 when one of the worst storms of the century scattered the French fleets which were about to battle for control of the English Channel, sinking one ship and putting five out of action.

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The barges had began embarking some 10,000 troops and the storm wrecked the troop and equipment transports, sinking some with the loss of all hands. Charles was officially informed on February 28 that the invasion had been cancelled. The British lodged strong diplomatic objections to the presence of Charles, and France declared war but gave Charles no more support.

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The 'Forty-Five

Charles continued to believe that he could reclaim the kingdom and recalled that early in 1744 a small number of Scottish Highland clan chieftains had sent a message that they would rise if he arrived with as few as 3,000 French troops. Living at French expense, he continued to badger ministers for commitment to another invasion, to their increasing irritation. In secrecy he also developed a plan with a consortium of Nantes privateers, funded by exiled Scots bankers and pawning of his mother's jewellery. They fitted out a small frigate le Du Teillay and a ship of the line the Elisabeth and set out from Nantes for Scotland in July 1745 on the pretence that this was a normal privateering cruise, leaving a personal letter from Charles to Louis XV of France announcing the departure and asking for help with the rising. The Elisabeth, carrying weapons, supplies and 700 volunteers from the Irish Brigade, encountered the British Navy ship HMS Lion and with both ships badly damaged in the ensuing battle the Elisabeth was forced back, but the Frigate successfully landed Charles with his seven men of Moidart on the island of Eriskay in the Outer Hebrides on August 2nd 1745.

Related Topics:
Nantes - Louis XV of France - Irish Brigade - HMS ''Lion'' - Eriskay - Outer Hebrides - 1745

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The Scottish clans initially showed little enthusiasm about his arrival without troops or munitions, but Charles went on to Moidart and on August 19th 1745 raised the standard at Glenfinnan to lead the Second Jacobite Rising in his father's name. This attracted about 1,200 men, mostly Clan Cameron. The Jacobite force marched south from Glenfinnan, increasing to almost 3,000 men, though two chieftains insisted on pledges of compensation before joining.

Related Topics:
Moidart - 1745 - Glenfinnan - Clan Cameron

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Most of the British army was in Flanders and Germany, leaving an inexperienced army of about 4,000 in Scotland under Sir John Cope. His force marched north into the Highlands, but found little support because of the unpopularity of King George II's government and, believing the rebel force to be stronger than it really was, avoided an engagement with the Jacobites at the Pass of Corryarrick and withdrew northwards to Inverness.

Related Topics:
John Cope - George II - Pass of Corryarrick - Inverness

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The Jacobites captured Perth and at Coltbridge on the way to Edinburgh routed two regiments of government Dragoons. In Edinburgh there was panic with a melting away of the City Guard and Volunteers, and when the city gate at the Netherbar Port was opened at night to let a coach through a party of Camerons rushed the sentries and seized control of the city. The next day King James VIII was proclaimed at the Mercat Cross and a triumphant Charles entered Holyrood palace.

Related Topics:
Perth - Coltbridge - Edinburgh - Dragoon - Holyrood palace

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Cope's army got supplies from Inverness then sailed from Aberdeen down to Dunbar to meet the Jacobite forces near Prestonpans to the east of Edinburgh.

Related Topics:
Aberdeen - Dunbar - Prestonpans

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On September 21 1745 at the Battle of Prestonpans a surprise attack planned by Lord George Murray routed the government forces, as celebrated in the Jacobite song "Hey, Johnny Cope, are you waking yet?". Charles immediately wrote again to France pleading for a prompt invasion of England. There was alarm in England, and in London a patriotic song which included a prayer for Marshal Wade's success in crushing the Scots was performed, later to become the National Anthem.

Related Topics:
1745 - Battle of Prestonpans - Lord George Murray - National Anthem

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The Jacobites held the city of Edinburgh, though not the castle. Charles held court at Holyrood palace for five weeks, exciting great admiration and enthusiasm but failing to raise a regiment locally. Many of the highlanders went home with booty from the battle and recruiting resumed, though Whig clans supporting the government were also getting organised. The French now sent some weapons and funds, and assurances that they would carry out their invasion of England by the end of the year. Charles' Council of war led by Murray was against leaving Scotland, but he told them that he had received English Tory assurances of a rising if he appeared in England in arms, and the Council agreed to march south by a margin of one vote.

Related Topics:
City of Edinburgh - Castle - Whig

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The Jacobite army of under six thousand men set out on November 3rd. During the delay the government had brought seasoned troops back from the continent and an army under General George Wade assembled at Newcastle. Charles wanted to confront them, but on the advice of Lord George Murray and the Council they made for Carlisle and successfully bypassed Wade. At Manchester about 250 Episcopalians formed a regiment, but no other Englishmen joined the Prince. At the end of November French ships arrived in Scotland with 800 men from the Eccosais Royeaux (Royal Scots) and Irish Regiments of the French army.

Related Topics:
George Wade - Newcastle - Carlisle - Manchester - Episcopalian - Royal Scots - Irish Regiment

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The Jacobite army, by now reduced by desertions to under 5,000 men, was manoeuvred by Murray round to the east of a second government army under the Duke of Cumberland and marched on Derby.

Related Topics:
Duke of Cumberland - Derby

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They entered Derby on December 4th, only 125 miles (200 km) from a panicking London, with a resentful Charles by then barely on speaking terms with Murray. Charles was advised of progress on the French invasion fleet which was then assembling at Dunkirk, but at his Council of War he was forced to admit to his previous lies about assurances. While Charles was determined to press on in the deluded belief that their success was due to soldiers of the regulars never daring to fight against their true prince, his Council and Lord George Murray pointed out their position. The promised English support had not materialised, both Wade and Cumberland were approaching, a militia was forming in London and they had a report of a third army closing on them (fictitious, from a government double agent). They insisted that their army should return to join the growing force in Scotland. This time only Charles voted to continue the advance, and he assented while throwing a tantrum and vowing never to consult the Council again. On December 6th the Jacobites sullenly began their retreat, with a petulant Charles refusing to take any part in running the campaign which was fortunate given the excellent leadership of Murray, whose brilliant feints and careful planning extracted the army virtually intact. The French got news of the retreat and cancelled their invasion which was now ready, while English Tories who had just sent a message pledging support if Charles reached London went to ground again.

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There was a rearguard action to the north of Penrith. The Manchester regiment was left behind to defend Carlisle and after a siege by Cumberland had to surrender, to face hanging or transportation. By Christmas the Jacobites came to Glasgow and forced the city to re-provision their army, then on January 3rd left to seize the town of Stirling and begin an ineffectual siege of Stirling Castle. Jacobite reinforcements joined them from the north and on January 17th about 8,000 of Charles' 9,000 men took the offensive to the approaching General Henry Hawley at the Battle of Falkirk and routed his forces.

Related Topics:
Penrith - Stirling - Stirling Castle - Henry Hawley - Battle of Falkirk

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The Jacobite army then turned north, losing men and failing to take Stirling Castle or Fort William but taking Fort Augustus and Fort George in Inverness by early April. Charles now took charge again, insisting on fighting an orthodox defensive action, and on April 16th 1746 they were finally defeated near Inverness at the Battle of Culloden by Hanoverian forces made up of English and Scottish troops and Campbell militia, under the command of the Duke of Cumberland. The seemingly suicidal Highland sword charge against cannon and muskets had succeeded in earlier battles but failed now owing to the completely unsuitable nature of the battlefield chosen by Charles, his irresolute tactics and Cumberland having trained his men well with new bayonet tactics to withstand the charge. Charles promptly abandoned his army, blaming everything on the treachery of his officers, even though after the defeat the stragglers and unengaged units rallied at the agreed rendezvous and only dispersed when ordered to leave.

Related Topics:
Fort William - Fort Augustus - Fort George - Inverness - 1746 - Battle of Culloden - Hanoverian - Campbell - Duke of Cumberland

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Charles fled to France making a dramatic if humiliating escape disguised as a "lady's maid" to Flora Macdonald. Cumberland's forces crushed the rebellion and effectively ended Jacobitism as a serious political force in Britain.

Related Topics:
Charles - Flora Macdonald

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