William Drummond, 4th Viscount Strathallan
Encyclopedia
William Drummond, 4th Viscount Strathallan (1690 – 16 April 1746) was a Jacobite
army officer and fourth son of Sir John Drummond of Machany and Margaret, daughter of Sir William Stewart of Innernytie.
. On 26 May 1711 Drummond succeeded as fourth Viscount of Strathallan
on the death of his cousin, William. In 1712, Strathallan married Margaret Murray (died 28 May 1773), daughter of William Murray, 2nd Lord Nairne and his wife, Margaret Nairne.
Strathallan was amongst the first to join the Jacobite rising
of 1715, attending John Erskine
, 22nd Earl of Mar
's hunting party. Serving under Brigadier William Mackintosh of Borlum
, he led a battalion from Perthshire in the campaign. He was taken prisoner at Sheriffmuir and was moved to Stirling and under the terms of the Act of Grace of 1717, was neither injured nor prosecuted. Strathallan joined the army of Charles Edward Stuart
on 3 September 1745, commanding the Perthshire Horse, with two troops under him led by Lieutenant-Colonel
Lawrence Oliphant of Gask and Major John Haldane, he is also named as being a member of the Prince's Privy council
. At the Battle of Prestonpans
, he commanded the only cavalry unit in the Jacobite force, around thirty-six troopers and their servants. Strathallan was promoted to major-general
and was appointed general officer commanding
in Scotland, stationed in Perth, while his cavalry under the command of William Boyd, 4th Earl of Kilmarnock
, joined Prince Charles in his march south. Strathallan remained in command in Scotland until superseded by Lord John Drummond.
At the Battle of Falkirk
, the Perthshire Horse were at the back of the field, taking little part in the action. Several weeks later, at the Battle of Culloden
, when the government ranks closed round the Jacobites and advanced on their undeployed second and third lines, Strathallan 'resolved to die in the field rather than by the hand of the executioner', his horse was killed beneath him, and according to tradition, he was run through by Colonel George Howard of the 3rd Foot. Whilst awaiting death on the battlefield, it is said he received a last sacrament
of oatmeal or oatcake and whisky or water, from John Maitland of Careston, the chaplain to the Forfarshire Regiment.
Lady Strathallan, being from a Jacobite family, was held prisoner in Edinburgh Castle
from 11 February—22 November 1746 while proceedings for treason were under consideration.
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...
army officer and fourth son of Sir John Drummond of Machany and Margaret, daughter of Sir William Stewart of Innernytie.
Life
Drummond was born in 1690, a year in which his father was outlawed for adhering to the House of StuartHouse of Stuart
The House of Stuart is a European royal house. Founded by Robert II of Scotland, the Stewarts first became monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland during the late 14th century, and subsequently held the position of the Kings of Great Britain and Ireland...
. On 26 May 1711 Drummond succeeded as fourth Viscount of Strathallan
Viscount Strathallan
The title of Lord Maderty was created in 1609 for James Drummond, a younger son of the 2nd Lord Drummond of Cargill. The titles of Viscount Strathallan and Lord Drummond of Cromlix were created in 1686 for William Drummond, a younger son of the 2nd Lord Madderty...
on the death of his cousin, William. In 1712, Strathallan married Margaret Murray (died 28 May 1773), daughter of William Murray, 2nd Lord Nairne and his wife, Margaret Nairne.
Strathallan was amongst the first to join the Jacobite rising
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...
of 1715, attending John Erskine
John Erskine, 22nd Earl of Mar
John Erskine, 22nd and de jure 6th Earl of Mar, KT , Scottish Jacobite, was the eldest son of the 21st Earl of Mar , from whom he inherited estates that were heavily loaded with debt. By modern reckoning he was 22nd Earl of Mar of the first creation and de jure 6th Earl of Mar of the seventh...
, 22nd Earl of Mar
Earl of Mar
The Mormaer or Earl of Mar is a title that has been created seven times, all in the Peerage of Scotland. The first creation of the earldom was originally the provincial ruler of the province of Mar in north-eastern Scotland...
's hunting party. Serving under Brigadier William Mackintosh of Borlum
Mackintosh of Borlum
Brigadier William Mackintosh, Laird of Borlum usually known as Mackintosh of Borlum was a leader of the Jacobite rebellion of 1715 and a member of the Clan Mackintosh....
, he led a battalion from Perthshire in the campaign. He was taken prisoner at Sheriffmuir and was moved to Stirling and under the terms of the Act of Grace of 1717, was neither injured nor prosecuted. Strathallan joined the army of 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...
on 3 September 1745, commanding the Perthshire Horse, with two troops under him led by Lieutenant-Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
Lawrence Oliphant of Gask and Major John Haldane, he is also named as being a member of the Prince's Privy council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
. At the Battle of Prestonpans
Battle of Prestonpans
The Battle of Prestonpans was the first significant conflict in the Jacobite Rising of 1745. The battle took place at 4 am on 21 September 1745. The Jacobite army loyal to James Francis Edward Stuart and led by his son Charles Edward Stuart defeated the government army loyal to the Hanoverian...
, he commanded the only cavalry unit in the Jacobite force, around thirty-six troopers and their servants. Strathallan was promoted to major-general
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
and was appointed general officer commanding
General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding is the usual title given in the armies of Commonwealth nations to a general officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, a general might be the GOC II Corps or GOC 7th Armoured Division...
in Scotland, stationed in Perth, while his cavalry under the command of William Boyd, 4th Earl of Kilmarnock
William Boyd, 4th Earl of Kilmarnock
William Boyd , 4th Earl of Kilmarnock, was a Scottish nobleman.William Boyd was educated at Glasgow. Like his father in the rebellion of 1715, William initially supported the Government side, but in the rebellion of 1745, owing either to a personal affront or to the influence of his wife or to his...
, joined Prince Charles in his march south. Strathallan remained in command in Scotland until superseded by Lord John Drummond.
At the Battle of Falkirk
Battle of Falkirk (1746)
During the Second Jacobite Rising, the Battle of Falkirk Muir was the last noteworthy Jacobite success.-Background:...
, the Perthshire Horse were at the back of the field, taking little part in the action. Several weeks later, 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...
, when the government ranks closed round the Jacobites and advanced on their undeployed second and third lines, Strathallan 'resolved to die in the field rather than by the hand of the executioner', his horse was killed beneath him, and according to tradition, he was run through by Colonel George Howard of the 3rd Foot. Whilst awaiting death on the battlefield, it is said he received a last sacrament
Anointing of the Sick
Anointing of the Sick, known also by other names, is distinguished from other forms of religious anointing or "unction" in that it is intended, as its name indicates, for the benefit of a sick person...
of oatmeal or oatcake and whisky or water, from John Maitland of Careston, the chaplain to the Forfarshire Regiment.
Lady Strathallan, being from a Jacobite family, was held prisoner in Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is a fortress which dominates the skyline of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, from its position atop the volcanic Castle Rock. Human habitation of the site is dated back as far as the 9th century BC, although the nature of early settlement is unclear...
from 11 February—22 November 1746 while proceedings for treason were under consideration.