George Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Cromartie facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Earl of Cromartie
Preceded by	John Mackenzie, 2nd Earl of Cromartie
Personal details
Born	1703
Died	28 September 1766
Spouse	Isabel Gordon

George Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Cromartie (born around 1703 – died September 28, 1766) was an important Scottish nobleman. He held the title of Earl of Cromartie.

Life of George Mackenzie

Joining the Jacobite Rising

George Mackenzie became the Earl of Cromartie in February 1731, after his father, John, the 2nd Earl, passed away. In 1745, a major event known as the Jacobite Rising began in Scotland. This was a rebellion led by Charles Edward Stuart, also known as "Bonnie Prince Charlie," who wanted to reclaim the British throne for his family.

Earl George Mackenzie decided to join Prince Charles and the Jacobite forces. He fought with them until April 1746.

Capture and Pardon

In April 1746, after a battle called the Battle of Littleferry, Earl George Mackenzie was captured in an area of Scotland called Sutherland. He was put on trial and faced very serious consequences. He was sentenced to death, but he received a special pardon. This pardon meant he would not be executed, but it came with strict conditions.

One of the conditions was that his noble title, the Earldom of Cromartie, was taken away. This was called "forfeiting his peerage." It is said that his wife was expecting a baby at the time, which may have helped him get the pardon.

Life After the Rebellion

After his pardon, George Mackenzie faced a very difficult life. All his family's lands and rights were taken away by the government in 1748. This left him in extreme poverty.

He died on September 28, 1766, in London. As part of his pardon, he was never allowed to travel north of the River Trent again, which meant he could not return to Scotland.

Family of George Mackenzie

George Mackenzie married Isabel Gordon on September 23, 1724. They had a large family with many children. In 1746, when their father was captured, many of their children were still young. They had three sons and nine daughters.

John Mackenzie, Lord MacLeod

Their eldest son was John Mackenzie, Lord MacLeod. He also fought alongside his father in the 1745 rebellion. Like his father, John was found guilty of treason and sentenced to death. However, he also received a full pardon and was released in 1748.

John's pardon also came with conditions: all his family's lands and rights were taken by the Crown. After his release, John went to Sweden. There, he became a high-ranking officer in the Swedish army and was given the title of Count. Even the British King, George II, recognized his Swedish title.

In 1777, John returned to England. He asked for his family's lands to be given back. He also offered to create a new Scottish army regiment for the government. This regiment became known as the 1st Battalion Highland Light Infantry. John later became a Major-General in the British Army.

In 1780, John Mackenzie was elected as a Member of Parliament for Ross-shire. In 1784, an Act of Parliament returned the family estates to him, but he had to pay £19,000. The title of Earl of Cromartie was not restored. John died without children in 1789.

Isabella Mackenzie, Lady Elibank

One of George Mackenzie's daughters was Isabella Mackenzie. She married George Murray, 6th Lord Elibank. Isabella had two daughters.

In 1796, after her cousin Kenneth Mackenzie passed away, Isabella inherited the family estates. Her great-granddaughter, Anne Hay-Mackenzie, was later given the title of Countess of Cromartie in her own right in 1861. This was a special creation of the title.