Hugh Mackay (general) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hugh Mackay
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Painting of Mackay from 1690.
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| Born | 1640 Scourie, Sutherlandshire, Scotland |
| Died | 24 July 1692 (aged 51–52) Southern Netherlands |
| Allegiance |  Dutch Republic |
| Years of service | 1660–1692 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Unit | Dutch Scots Brigade |
| Commands held | Military Commander in Scotland, January 1689 – November 1690 |
| Battles/wars | Fifth Ottoman-Venetian War Third Anglo-Dutch War 1672–1674 Franco-Dutch War 1672–1678 Battle of Seneffe 1674 Cassel 1677 Saint-Denis 1678 Jacobite Rising Killiecrankie Williamite War in Ireland 1689–1691 Aughrim 1691 Nine Years' War Steinkirk 1692 |
| Awards | Privy Councillor of Scotland |
Hugh Mackay (around 1640 – 24 July 1692) was a Scottish military officer. He spent most of his career serving William of Orange, who later became King William III of England. Mackay was known for his loyalty and bravery in many battles across Europe.
He led the famous Scots Brigade, a group of Scottish soldiers serving the Dutch army. Mackay played a key role in the Glorious Revolution and commanded forces in Scotland and Ireland. He was sadly killed in battle in 1692.
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Life of Hugh Mackay
Hugh Mackay was born in Scotland around 1640. He was the third son of Hugh Mackay of Scourie. His family was part of the Clan Mackay.
In 1668, Hugh's older brothers died. When his father passed away soon after, Hugh inherited the family home in Scourie. However, he never lived there himself. Hugh also had two younger brothers. One, James, was killed in battle at Killiecrankie in 1689.
In 1673, Hugh married Clara de Bie, whose father was a wealthy merchant from Amsterdam. They had several children together. Many of Hugh's descendants also served in the Dutch military.
A Soldier's Life in the 1600s
In the late 1600s, armies were quite different from today. Soldiers often served in units made up of people from other countries. For example, the Dutch army had a special group called the Scots Brigade. This brigade was made up of Scottish and English soldiers.
Officers sometimes moved between different armies or even changed sides. Their loyalty was often based on their religious beliefs or personal friendships. This meant that soldiers who had fought together might later find themselves on opposite sides. For instance, some of Mackay's opponents in Scotland had once been his colleagues in the Scots Brigade.
Early Military Service
(Jan_van_Leyden,_1669).jpg)
In 1660, Hugh Mackay began his military career as an ensign. He joined a Scottish mercenary unit called Dumbarton's Regiment. This regiment served the French king, Louis XIV.
During the Second Anglo-Dutch War (1665–1667), Mackay's regiment was based in England. After the Raid on the Medway in 1667, where the Dutch attacked English ships, his regiment was sent back to France.
In 1669, Mackay volunteered to fight for Venice in the Fifth Ottoman-Venetian War. He later rejoined Dumbarton's Regiment. In 1672, he took part in the invasion of the Dutch Republic. Many Scottish and English officers did not like fighting against the Dutch Protestants.
After he got married in 1673, Mackay moved to the Scots Brigade. This brigade was part of the Dutch army. He fought in the Battle of Seneffe in 1674 and the siege of Grave.
The Scots Brigade had been around since the 1570s. By 1674, it needed new energy. Mackay suggested recruiting more soldiers from England and Scotland. This helped make the Brigade strong again. Mackay's own regiment was mostly made up of his family and clan members.
In 1685, William of Orange sent the Scots Brigade to England. They were there to help King James II stop the Monmouth Rebellion. Mackay was the temporary commander. He returned to the Netherlands without fighting. King James tried to win Mackay's loyalty by making him a Privy Councillor of Scotland.
Fighting in Scotland and Ireland
In 1688, William of Orange landed in England. This event is known as the Glorious Revolution. Mackay's Brigade was part of William's invasion force. On 4 January 1689, Mackay was made commander in Scotland.
His main job was to protect the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. But in March, King James landed in Ireland. Then, John Graham, Viscount Dundee started a rebellion in Scotland to support James.
Mackay had about 1,100 men from the Scots Brigade. He got more recruits, bringing his total to over 3,500. However, many of these new soldiers were not fully trained.
On 27 July 1689, Mackay's forces met Dundee's Jacobite army at the Battle of Killiecrankie. Mackay's soldiers were positioned on a hill. The Jacobites attacked just after sunset. Mackay's left side fought well, but his right side ran away. The Highlanders fought hand-to-hand with swords and axes.
This battle was one of the first times British troops used the plug bayonet. This bayonet fit into the musket barrel, which meant soldiers could not reload or fire while it was attached. Because Mackay's troops were not very experienced, they were quickly overwhelmed. The battle lasted less than 30 minutes.
Mackay lost nearly 2,000 men, including his younger brother James. However, Dundee, the Jacobite leader, was killed at the end of the battle. This allowed Mackay and about 500 survivors to escape to Stirling Castle.
Even after this defeat, Mackay quickly gathered a new force. The Jacobites could not get supplies easily, and they lacked cavalry. This meant time was on Mackay's side. He just needed to avoid another surprise attack.
Alexander Cannon took over from Dundee. But his army was defeated at the Battle of Dunkeld in August. Mackay spent the winter attacking Jacobite strongholds. He also built a new base at Fort William. The harsh winter caused food shortages for the Jacobites.
In February 1690, Thomas Buchan replaced Cannon. But his forces were scattered at the Battle of Cromdale in May. Mackay chased him, preventing him from setting up a new base. In November, Mackay handed over command to another officer.
Meanwhile, in Ireland, the French king, Louis XIV, supported King James. Mackay was sent to Ireland as second-in-command to General Ginkell. At the Battle of Aughrim on 12 July 1691, Mackay led his infantry in fierce attacks on the Jacobite positions. When the Irish soldiers ran out of ammunition, Mackay's fourth attack broke their lines. The Jacobite army fell apart when their leader was killed. The war in Ireland ended in October 1691 with the Treaty of Limerick.
Final Battle in Flanders
After the war in Ireland ended, Mackay returned to the Netherlands. He became commander of the British part of the Allied army for the 1692 campaign in Flanders.
On 24 July 1692, William of Orange launched a surprise attack at the Battle of Steinkirk. Mackay's division led the assault. They captured the first three lines of enemy trenches. They were very close to winning a great victory. However, the French army quickly recovered.
William could not send more soldiers to the front lines because of confusion and bad roads. Mackay's troops were spread out and under heavy pressure. Mackay asked William for permission to pull back and regroup. But he was ordered to keep attacking. He reportedly said, "The Lord's will be done." He then led his regiment from the front and was killed along with many of his soldiers. Over 8,000 Allied troops were injured or killed in the battle.
Mackay's Legacy
Hugh Mackay was a skilled and dependable commander. He was good at planning and keeping calm under pressure. At Killiecrankie, even though he lost the battle, he quickly gathered a new force. He focused on stopping the Jacobites from getting supplies or forcing them to fight where they were at a disadvantage. He succeeded in these goals.
Mackay was very good at logistics, which means organizing supplies and movements. This was a very important skill in the late 1600s. He worked closely with other commanders, leading to victories like the one at Cromdale.
While he was a great planner, Mackay was less effective in direct battlefield attacks. His repeated frontal assaults at Steinkirk and Aughrim showed a lack of new ideas. However, he was a reliable leader who could be trusted to follow orders.
King William reportedly said that Mackay always gave his honest opinion in war councils. But if the council decided on a different plan, Mackay would still support it fully and carry out his part with great effort.
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