Chevalier de Johnstone
Encyclopedia
James Johnstone also known as Chevalier de Johnstone, and who sometimes signed himself as Johnstone de Moffatt was an army officer who took part in the Jacobite Rising of 1745
and the Seven Years' War
. He is notable for his memoirs.
Johnstone joined the Jacobite Army in Perth
shortly after the raising of the standard at Glenfinnan in 1745. He was twenty-six years old, and according to John Prebble
, was "as proud of his kinship with Scots nobility as any Highlander". He served as aide-de-camp
both to Lord George Murray and to Charles Edward Stuart
, and fought with the Jacobites
through the remainder of the campaign. He was present at the Battle of Culloden
and, according to his memoirs, charged to within 20 yards of the Government lines before taking flight with the rest of the Jacobites. After Culloden, Johnstone had a number of narrow escapes, he hid in the Highlands
for a while before deciding to venture to Edinburgh
where he had more friends who could aid his escape. He later went to London
, finally making his way to Holland disguised as a servant to Lady Jean Douglas. Johnstone later served the French in Canada
, and wrote an account of the campaign of 1760.
Jacobite rising
The Jacobite Risings were a series of uprisings, rebellions, and wars in Great Britain and Ireland occurring between 1688 and 1746. The uprisings were aimed at returning James VII of Scotland and II of England, and later his descendants of the House of Stuart, to the throne after he was deposed by...
and the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
. He is notable for his memoirs.
Johnstone joined the Jacobite Army in Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
shortly after the raising of the standard at Glenfinnan in 1745. He was twenty-six years old, and according to John Prebble
John Prebble
John Edward Curtis Prebble, FRSL, OBE was an English/Canadian journalist, novelist, documentarian and historian. He is best known for his studies of Scottish history.-Early life:...
, was "as proud of his kinship with Scots nobility as any Highlander". He served as aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
both to Lord George Murray and to Charles Edward Stuart
Charles Edward Stuart
Prince Charles Edward Louis John Casimir Sylvester Severino Maria Stuart commonly known as Bonnie Prince Charlie or The Young Pretender was the second Jacobite pretender to the thrones of Great Britain , and Ireland...
, and fought with the Jacobites
Jacobitism
Jacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
through the remainder of the campaign. He was present at the Battle of Culloden
Battle of Culloden
The Battle of Culloden was the final confrontation of the 1745 Jacobite Rising. Taking place on 16 April 1746, the battle pitted the Jacobite forces of Charles Edward Stuart against an army commanded by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, loyal to the British government...
and, according to his memoirs, charged to within 20 yards of the Government lines before taking flight with the rest of the Jacobites. After Culloden, Johnstone had a number of narrow escapes, he hid in the Highlands
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
for a while before deciding to venture to Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
where he had more friends who could aid his escape. He later went to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, finally making his way to Holland disguised as a servant to Lady Jean Douglas. Johnstone later served the French in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and wrote an account of the campaign of 1760.