[mairead]

Lord George Murray was the son of the first Duke of Atholl, a Hanovarian suporter. He was born at Huntingtower in Perthshire on the 4th October 1694.
George served in the army of Queen Anne Stewart but felt no loyaty to the House of Hanover.
He joined the Jacobites in the 1715 rising, leading the men of Atholl but after the failure of that rising a biull of treason was brought against him in 1718 and he went to safety in France.
In 1719, he returned to fight in that rising as a Major General and after the failure of the 1719 and being again exiled, he accepted the Hanovarian rule and returned to Scotland in 1724. He took the oath of Loyalty in 1725 and began to build up his estates.
Murray was often difficult to reason with, but was a loving father and husband. He often wrestled between his conscience and his duty to others.
When he finally decided to join Prinve Charles Edward Stewart in the 1745 Jacobite rising, he gave his reasons as
1. No-one had the right to depose a King who ruled by divine right.
2. The House of Hanover was involving Scotland in massive debts in order to
continue foreign wars.
3. The government was allowing mass corruption.

In 1744, Jacobite murmurings were again being heard in the country and with the arrival of Prince Charles in Scotland, Murray left his home to join the Prince.
Lord George was not the flattering courtier that Charles Stewart was used to, but was a fairly outspoken and somewhat tacless man. He was however, the best and most experienced soldier in the entire Jacobite army, had Charles Stewart but had the sense to recognise this.
He was one of the officers who spoke most forcibly that the army should retreat from Derby because he saw the real danger the Jacobite forces were now in, and Prince Charles never forgave Murray for this retreat
After the disastrous battle of Culloden in 1746, at which Charles took the side and suggestions of John O'Sullivan over that of Lord Murray and the other officers, Murray went to Ruthven in Badenoch to try to rally the remnants of the army, but Prince Charles had ordered the officers and chiefs to disband.
From Ruthven, Murray sent an angry letter to the Prince, criticising him for his faith in John O'Sullivan's judgement, pointing out that O'Sullivan had been too much lacking in military exoerience to have been trusted to make the decisions he had, and also pointing out that the man had been missing from many of the earlier battles.
He also criticised the Prince, for the lack of provisions and for his trust in Murray of Broughton, (who later turned traitor and gave evidence against those he had fought alongside).
Lord George then spent the next eight months hiding in Glencairney before he finally reached safety in Europe. He lived out the rest of his life in exile, separated from his wife and family, until his death at Medemblik in Holland in 1760.
As a leader, Murray ranked with the great Montrose and Bonnie Dundee, as one of Scotland's finest, true till death, to his principles and his king.
Dark stories were whispered about him, but he is best described by the highlanders who knew him and loved him best of all.

"Duinne Finneach" (The righteous man.)

Thee can be no greater tribute to the character of the man than this.

[mairead]

William Maxwell, 5th Earl of Nithsdale 1694-1744

The Earl of Nithsdale took part in the aborive rising of 1708 for which he was heavily fined.
In 1715, he took part in the rising led by the Earl of Mar for which he was attainted and tried for high treason. He was condemned to be executed but was rescued at the last minute by his wife, who disguised him as her maid servant.
He then went to Venice where he hid in the Venetian embassy until his escape to Calais was arranged by the Venetians. he was joined there by his wife and from their the two went to Rome where they were welcomed at the court of the exiled Stewarts. They lived the rest of their lives at Rome.
Their estates were eventually entailed to their son Lord Maxwell.

[mairead]

Ewan MacPherson (Cluny) died 1756

Cluny was the chief of Clan MacPherson and had lands in Badenoch and Lochaber. He married the dauhgter of Simon Fraser of Lovat.
In 1745 he was granted a commission in Lord Loudon's regiment under General Cope.
Dr Archie Cameron, brother of Cameron of Lochiel captured Cluny who sent to Cope for help, but no help came and Cluny changes sides and joined the Jacobite forces where he became a strong minded member of prince Charles Edward Stewart's council. He was a good soldier who appreciated the worth of Lord George Murray and was one of those chiefs who voted for the retreat from Derby..
Having arrive at Culloden after the battle was over, he mustered his men and along with Murray, tried to rally the clans at Ruthven.
The government pu t price of £1000 on Cluny's head, but despite this, Cluny remained hidden in Scotland until 1754.
Much of his time in hiding was spent in "Cluny's Cage". This was a shelter on Ben Alder which was built into and behind a tree on the Ben The tree was then disguised with branches and moss. It consisted of two tiny rooms, one up and one down and even had a fireplace of sorts at the back.
Many prominent Jacobites, including Lochiel, Dr Cameron and Prince Charles Stewart found refuge in a heavily wooded glen near to Cluny's house.
Cluny eventually escaped to France..

[mairead]

Iain Dhu MacKinnon 1682-1756

His father died on the day that Iain Dhu was born and he was raised by his formidable grandfather.
In 1700, Iain became the 29th Chief iof the MacKinnons. He became embroiled in the intrigues of the Jacobites and was on one occasion summoned to appear before the Lord Advocate in Edinburgh to give assurance of his loyalty to the House of Hanover.
At the start of the 1715 rising, Iain raised his clan in support of the Stewarts and joined up with the Earl of Seaforth.
After the battle of Sheriffmuir, he was attainted and his estates taken. His estates were bought by the Grant Chief and eventually they were sold back to JOhn MacKinnon, Iain's son.
In the rising of 1745, both he and his father-in-law, a MacLeod of Raasay came out again for the Stewarts and Iain led his men on the march to Derby and back. The clan fought at Falkirk and defeated Lord Loudon and were then sent to try to recover some of the supplies.
Iain Dhu fought at Culloden in a centre position under the Duke of Perth. After the battle, he escaped and joined Lord George Murray at Ruthven.
The MacKinnon clan played a part in hiding Prince Charles while he was on the run from the Hanovarian forces and eventually brought the prince to Borrodale where they gave him over to MacDonald of Borrodale.
Ian Dhu was later captured and taken to the tower of London but was released in 1747 with a pardon.
He returned to Kilmorlie in Skye where he died aged 75, a loyal Jacobite to the end.

[mairead]

Brigadier William MacIntosh of Borlum 1662-1743

MacIntosh was a Jacobite agent and an experienced soldier who wasmade envoy to the exiled Stewart court in1714.
In 1715, he proclamined James 3rd at Inverness.
When the English Jacobites under Thomas Forster appealed to the Earl of Mar for aid, Borlum was sent with a large force to join with Forsters men. Crossing the Esk, Borlum was joined by the Earl of Derwentwater.
The Jacobites took Lindesfarne on 10th october but lost it almost at once. They marched on and by the 9th of November had reached preston where they proclaimed James 3rd.
On 12 November, General Wightman and a government force arrved at the town and Forster surrendered and delivered upo the highlanders without terms, without even consulting Borlum, who was taken and sent to the Tower of London. He escaped and managed to make his way to France.
In 1719, Borlum returned but was again taken and again he escaped.

[mairead]

Dr Archie Cameron 1707-1753

Dr Cameron was the brother of Donald Cameron of Lochiel, Chief of the Clan Cameron.
He was a highly respected doctor of medicine and it was he who guided prince Charles from Loch Arkaig to Strathglass. A known supporter of the prince, Dr Archie then escaped to safety in France.
he returned some years later to investigate the gold which had been lsft by the French at Loch Arkaig but his presence was made known to the government by 'Pickle' an unknow government spy, who had reported that Cameron was involved in the 'Elibank plot'.
He was taken to London and sentenced to death. The sentence was carried out on the 7th June 1753, and Dr Cameron was buried at the Savoy Chapel in London. His was the final execution of those who had come out for the Stewarts in 1745.

[mairead]

'Pickle'

This was the name given to an unknown Hanovarian spy who, it seems, lived among and was trusted by the exiled Jacobites.
Suspicion fell on Alisatair Ruadh macDonald of Glengarry, or someone arranging matters for him, as all Picklee's letters contained the same spelling errors, and the writing was similar to that on much of MacDonald's correspondence.
The widow of Dr Archie Cameron, who had been captured and executed on information supplied by Pickle, informed the exiled James 3rd of her suspicions about Glengarry but nothing was done.
It is thought that Frederick the Great of Prussia also was aware of the identity of the spy, but he never revealed it.
'Pickle' did a great deal of harm and betrayed many.
By co-incidence, after the death of Aliastair MacDonald of Glengarry, Pickle was never heard of again.

[mairead]

Alexander Robertson of Struan, 13th Chief of Clan Robertson. 1670-1749

Akexander was the second son of the 12th chief by his second wife, Marion, who was suspected of murdering the eldest son by his first wife.
He was educated at St Andrews university and succeded to the title in 1687.
He left university in 1688 and joined the forces of Graham of Claverhouse (Bonnie Dundee) against his mother's wishes.
He was attainted in 1690 and his estates were forfeited. Escaping to France, he was pardoned by Queen Anne in 1703 and returned to Scotland.
He joined the forces of the Earl of Mar in 1715, but was taken prisoner at the battle of Sherrifmuir. He escapes custody again and returned to France and was once again attainted. The exiled King James 3rd knighted him in 1725.
In 1731, he again returned to Scotland and in 1745, although old and in ill health, he brought his clan out under the command of Robertson of Woodsheal for Bonnie Prince Charlie. He was present at the battle of prestonpans, althoug did not take part in it.
He died on the 18th April 1749 at Carrie in Rannoch.
As a clan chief he was well respected, as a poet he was noatable but he never married for fear that he might pass on his mother's bad blood.

[mairead]

Joh Roy Stewart. 1700-1747

John Roy stewart joined the Scots Greys then later resigned and went to France where he joined the French Army.
He returned to Scotland in 1730 but was arrested and imprisoned at Inverness however, but with the help of Lord Lovat he effected his escape.
He then began to act as a messenger for Lord Lovat to the Stewart court in Rome.
By 1745, he was in a regiment under Marshal Saxe and was present when the Duke of Cumberland was beaten at Fontenroy on 11 may 1745.
He left the French service soon after and joined up with Prince Charles Jacobite army at Blair Atholl and fought at Culloden.
Fluent in several languages, he escaped to France with Prince Charles and died in Boulogne in 1747.

[mairead]

Francis Townley. 1709-1746

Colonel Frances Townley was born and raised in Townley Hall, Burnley.
Going to France in 1728, he met up with some of the Jacobites and began to sympathise with their cause.
He took a commission in the French army in 1728 where he fought under the Duke of Berwick at the siege of Phillipsburgh 1733, and returned to England around soon not long this
In 1733, he received a commission from the French King to raise troops for Prince Charles Edward Stewart
He later Joined the Prince and led the newly formed Manchester Regiment however he was taken prisoner at Carlisle, when the garrison there surrendered on the word of the Duke of Cumberland that no-one would be executedm if they surrendered.
Taken to London for trial he was sentenced to death.
Townley protested that the Duke of Cumberland had given his word that the garrison would be spared if they surrendered but it was to no avail.
After he was executed, his head was placed on the Temple Bar in London. It was later removed secretly and buried in the walls of the chapel at Townley Hall, Burnley. The body was buried at St. Pancras, London.

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