Who Do You Think You Are?

Behind The Headlines

The major events of 1740–1749

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The ’45 Rebellion

Some of the supporters of the Stuart monarchy had never accepted the ‘Glorious Revolution’ of 1688, which deposed the Catholic James II and substitute­d the Protestant William of Orange. James’ son, calling himself James III, maintained a court in exile. In 1745 he launched the last of the Jacobite rebellions, led by his own son, Charles Stuart – known as ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’ by his friends, but dismissed as ‘the Young Pretender’ by his foes.

Charles Stuart’s campaign started uncertainl­y when a ship carrying 700 Irish volunteers was turned back to France by a British warship. Charles arrived in Scotland in July and waited, gathering allies, before he made his presence known to his enemies.

Finally, assured of the support of many of the clan chiefs, he raised the Stuart standard at Glenfinnan on 19 August. His followers routed government forces at Prestonpan­s in September, and took Edinburgh. In November the army crossed into England, and captured Carlisle from a small number of ageing militiamen.

The March South

The Scottish army marched south to Manchester, then took Derby. Londoners began to fear that their safety was under threat from what was thought of as a Scottish horde. Some citizens put up their shutters and removed their goods from the capital, but others were wiser, recognisin­g the weakness of the rebels.

Indeed, the mood was glum in Charles’ camp – the support of the French had not been forthcomin­g. More disappoint­ingly, the expected wave of recruits from a dissatisfi­ed English population had never materialis­ed, despite some encouragin­g signs such as 200 volunteer soldiers from Manchester. The rebel force was only 5,500 strong, and massively outnumbere­d by two government armies led by the Duke of Cumberland from the South and Field Marshal George Wade from Newcastle.

Charles wanted to march to London, but his generals insisted on retreating to make a stand on home ground. They reached Scotland on 20 December, and confronted Cumberland at Culloden on 16 April 1746. The last pitched battle on British soil saw the rebels succumb to a larger, better prepared and better trained force. As many as 2,000 are believed to have been killed or wounded, compared with 300 government soldiers.

‘Londoners began to fear that their safety was under threat’

 ??  ?? Bonnie Prince Charlie raises the standard at Glenfinnan
Bonnie Prince Charlie raises the standard at Glenfinnan

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