Seven Men of Moidart facts for kids
The Seven Men of Moidart were seven loyal followers of Charles Edward Stuart. They joined him at the start of his attempt in 1745 to take back the thrones of Great Britain and Ireland. This group supported the House of Stuart, a royal family that had lost the throne.
The men came from different backgrounds, including English, Scottish, and Irish. They were connected by their secret plans to help the Stuarts. Some had military experience, but most were older. Some were even sick, which made the tough journey difficult for them.
The seven men traveled with Charles on a French ship called the Du Teillay. They first landed on Eriskay island. Later, they reached the mainland at Kinlochmoidart. Many years later, in the early 1800s, a line of beech trees was planted at Kinlochmoidart. This was done to remember the events and the men.
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Who Were the Men of Moidart?
The Marquess of Tullibardine
William Murray, Marquess of Tullibardine (1689–1746) was the oldest son of the first Duke of Atholl. He was also the brother of a famous Jacobite general, Lord George Murray. William Murray was deeply involved in earlier Jacobite uprisings in 1715 and 1719. After the 1715 rising, he was accused of treason.
He then lived in France, away from his home. He was often sick and didn't have much money. However, his family in Scotland secretly sent him financial help.
During the 1745 rising, he was the most important person from the Atholl family. He was chosen to raise Charles's flag at Glenfinnan on August 16. But his health problems, like gout, limited his military actions. After the defeat at Culloden, he was captured. He was sent to the Tower of London, where he died soon after because of his poor health.
John William O'Sullivan
Sir John William O'Sullivan (1700–c.1760) was an Irish soldier. Like many Irish Jacobites, he served in the French army. He gained experience in irregular warfare (fighting in small, unplanned battles) while serving in Corsica. Charles trusted him greatly and thought highly of him.
O'Sullivan became the Jacobite army's Adjutant-General and Quartermaster-General. This meant he was in charge of managing the army's daily operations and supplies. He was also an important member of the Jacobite "Council of War," which made key decisions.
After the rebellion failed, some Scottish Jacobites blamed O'Sullivan. They said he made bad tactical decisions. However, more recent studies suggest this blame was unfair. They believe O'Sullivan did well in his important roles. He later went back to serve in the French army. He also wrote a detailed story about the rebellion.
Sir Thomas Sheridan
Sir Thomas Sheridan (c.1684–1746) was an Anglo-Irish supporter of the Jacobite cause. He had also been involved in the 1715 rising. Thomas Sheridan's father was a former Chief Secretary for Ireland.
Sheridan was chosen to be Charles Stuart's teacher and guide. Because of this, they had a very close and trusting relationship. He was also a member of the Jacobite Council during the rebellion. After the Jacobite defeat at Culloden in April 1746, Sheridan escaped Scotland. He left on a French ship called the Mars. He had been in poor health for some time and died later that year in Rome.
Sir John MacDonald
Sir John MacDonald (d. after 1760) was a French citizen of Irish background. He was a skilled cavalry soldier and had fought in the French army. MacDonald was said to be related to the Earl of Antrim and a distant relative of the Scottish Clan Donald. During the rebellion, he was the Jacobite Inspector-General of Cavalry. This meant he oversaw all the cavalry forces.
He led the cavalry at Culloden. After the defeat, he surrendered at Inverness. He was then sent back to France. Like O'Sullivan, MacDonald was sometimes unfairly criticized in older historical accounts. However, new research shows he was a capable officer. The 1745 rebellion seemed to have a big impact on him. After it, he started spelling his name the Scottish way, "MacDonald." He also wrote his own story of the rebellion. He was still alive in 1760.
Francis Strickland
Colonel Francis Strickland (1691–1746) was an English Roman Catholic. His family, the Stricklands of Sizergh Castle, had been loyal to the Stuart family for a long time. He had been part of the 1715 uprising and had some military experience in Europe. MacDonald even said he had served with Strickland in Spain.
Strickland later joined the Jacobite court in Rome. Charles's father, James, thought Strickland was a bad influence. This was partly because Strickland had suggested Charles become an Anglican (a member of the Church of England) to get more support in England. When James found out Strickland had joined the expedition to Scotland, he tried to have him sent away.
Strickland became ill during the march through Scotland. He was left behind at Carlisle. After the government forces took Carlisle back, he claimed to be a French citizen. However, he died there on January 1, 1746. James later wrote a letter to Charles. He said the deaths of Strickland and Sheridan were a clear sign from heaven for Charles to "rescue himself from such hands."
George Kelly
The Rev. George Kelly (1688–1762) was an Irish Protestant clergyman. He was born in County Roscommon and studied at Trinity College Dublin. In 1722, he was involved in the Atterbury Plot, a plan to support the Stuarts. He was arrested and lost his property. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London but later escaped.
In 1736, a book about his experiences was published. James, Charles's father, was said to distrust Kelly. Kelly also seemed to have little understanding of the situation in England. However, Charles brought him along to manage the rebels' messages and public statements. Kelly wrote the main statement (Manifesto) that Charles issued early in the rebellion.
Kelly was sent back to France to report on the Jacobite victory at the Battle of Prestonpans. He did not return to Scotland after that. To James's disappointment, Kelly continued to work as Charles's secretary. He is believed to have died in Avignon in October 1762.
Aeneas Macdonald
Aeneas Macdonald (c.1715–1770) was a Scottish-French banker. He had lived most of his adult life in Paris. He was the son of a Clanranald tacksman (a landholder), Ranald MacDonald of Kinlochmoidart. His younger brother, Donald MacDonald of Kinlochmoidart, was also important in the rebellion as Charles's Aide-de-camp (a personal assistant).
Before the uprising, Gaelic songs and poems were written by Alasdair Mac Mhaighstir Alasdair. These included "A New Song" and "A Song to the Prince." These poems were sent to Aeneas MacDonald in Paris. Aeneas read the poems aloud to Prince Charles Edward Stuart in English. These poems played a big part in convincing the Prince to come to Scotland and start the Jacobite Rising of 1745.
MacDonald helped arrange much of Charles's first money for the rebellion. However, he later said he only went along reluctantly. He claimed he joined to influence his brother.
After Culloden, the government captured him. He was first sentenced to death but was instead sent away from the country. He wrote his own story of the rebellion. MacDonald returned to France. There is a common, but incorrect, story that he was killed during the French Revolution. However, he actually died in 1770.
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