Siege of Inverness (1715)
Encyclopedia
In November 1715 during the Jacobite rising
the town of Inverness
and Inverness Castle
were being held by the Clan Mackenzie, led by Sir John Mackenzie of Coul who supported the rebel Jacobite cause. Sir Simon Fraser of Lovat, chief of Clan Fraser besieged them, supported by the Clan Rose and Clan Forbes.
The Clan MacDonald of Keppoch were also Jacobites and attempted to relieve their allies the Mackenzies, however their path was blocked by the Frasers.
The Frasers were to attack the town from the north while Forbes of Culloden and Rose of Kilravock were to attack from the south. Sir John Mackenzie, on learning of the imminent attack took up position in the Tolbooth, which was a strong building in the centre of the town. He was followed by men of the Clan Rose, most notably Arthur Rose, brother of the chief with a small party. Arthur Rose tried to force his way in but ended up being jammed in the doorway and was shot dead by one of the Mackenzies.
Some of the Roses managed to persuade the Mackenzies to surrender. Sir John Mackenzie and his men immediately escaped by boats from the pier of Inverness, leaving all their baggage behind them, in a hurry to avoid contact with the approaching Frasers.
The following day Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat
marched into the town supported by 800 men from Clan Grant and 400 men from Clan Munro. Sir Robert Munro, 6th Baronet later took over as governor of the town from Fraser, and for some time the disarming of the rebels went on led by a Munro detachment under his younger brother, George Munro, 1st of Culcairn.
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...
the town of Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
and Inverness Castle
Inverness Castle
Inverness Castle sits on a cliff overlooking the River Ness, in Inverness, Scotland. The red sand stone structure evident today was built in 1836 by architect William Burn. It is built on the site of an 11th century defensive structure. Today, it houses Inverness Sheriff Court. There has been a...
were being held by the Clan Mackenzie, led by Sir John Mackenzie of Coul who supported the rebel Jacobite cause. Sir Simon Fraser of Lovat, chief of Clan Fraser besieged them, supported by the Clan Rose and Clan Forbes.
The Clan MacDonald of Keppoch were also Jacobites and attempted to relieve their allies the Mackenzies, however their path was blocked by the Frasers.
The Frasers were to attack the town from the north while Forbes of Culloden and Rose of Kilravock were to attack from the south. Sir John Mackenzie, on learning of the imminent attack took up position in the Tolbooth, which was a strong building in the centre of the town. He was followed by men of the Clan Rose, most notably Arthur Rose, brother of the chief with a small party. Arthur Rose tried to force his way in but ended up being jammed in the doorway and was shot dead by one of the Mackenzies.
Some of the Roses managed to persuade the Mackenzies to surrender. Sir John Mackenzie and his men immediately escaped by boats from the pier of Inverness, leaving all their baggage behind them, in a hurry to avoid contact with the approaching Frasers.
The following day Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat
Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat
Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat , was a Scottish Jacobite and Chief of Clan Fraser, who was famous for his violent feuding and his changes of allegiance. In 1715, he had been a supporter of the House of Hanover, but in 1745 he changed sides and supported the Stuart claim on the crown of Scotland...
marched into the town supported by 800 men from Clan Grant and 400 men from Clan Munro. Sir Robert Munro, 6th Baronet later took over as governor of the town from Fraser, and for some time the disarming of the rebels went on led by a Munro detachment under his younger brother, George Munro, 1st of Culcairn.
See also
- Siege of Inverness