Tam Dalyell of the Binns facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
General Thomas Dalyell
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| Born | 1615 |
| Died | 1685 |
| Allegiance |  Scotland (1628 to 1654, and 1660 to 1685) Russia (1654 to 1660) |
| Service/ |
Scottish Army |
| Years of service | 1628–1685 |
| Rank | General |
| Battles/wars | Huguenot rebellions Russo–Polish War (1654–67) |
Sir Thomas Dalyell of The Binns, 1st Baronet (1615–1685) was a Scottish general. He was a loyal supporter of the King during a time of great change in Britain. He was also known by the nicknames "Bluidy Tam" and "The Muscovite De'il."
Contents
A Young Soldier's Start
Thomas Dalyell was born in Linlithgowshire, Scotland, in 1615. His family was well-known.
When he was just 13, Thomas joined an important trip. He went with King Charles I's army to La Rochelle in France in 1628. They were helping a group called the Huguenots. Later, as a colonel, he served in Ireland.
Loyalty to the King
In 1649, King Charles I was executed. Thomas Dalyell was very upset by this. It is said he stopped shaving his beard as a sign of his sadness. He was captured in Ireland but later set free.
He fought in the Battle of Worcester in 1651. This was a big battle in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. Thomas was captured again and sent to the Tower of London. But he managed to escape!
Adventures in Russia
After his escape, Thomas Dalyell went to Russia. He joined the army of Tsar Alexis I. He became a general there.
He fought bravely in wars against the Turks and Tatars. He also fought in the Russo–Polish War. He was a skilled soldier and gained a lot of experience.
Return to Scotland
When King Charles II returned to the throne in 1660, Thomas Dalyell came back to Scotland. In 1666, he became the commander-in-chief of the army in Scotland. His job was to stop the Covenanters. These were Scottish people who disagreed with the King's religious rules.
Dalyell defeated the Covenanters at the Battle of Rullion Green. He was known for being very strict with his defeated enemies. This earned him the nickname "Bluidy Tam," which means "Bloody Tam." However, stories about his cruelty might have been made worse by people who didn't like the King.
He continued to serve the King and was part of the Scottish parliament. In 1681, he helped start a famous army group called the Scots Greys. He died in 1685.
The Legend of the Devil's Card Game
There's a famous legend about "Bluidy Tam." People say he sometimes played cards with the devil! One time, the devil was losing. He got so angry that he threw the card table at the general.
The devil missed, and the table flew out the window. It landed in a pond at Dalyell's home, the House of the Binns. Years later, during a dry spell in 1870, a marble card table was seen in the pond. In 1930, a local worker was asked to fix the table's legs. He said his very first job had been to pull that same table out of the pond!
Images for kids
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General Thomas Dalyell
