William Mackintosh of Borlum facts for kids

Brigadier William Mackintosh of Borlum (born 1658, died 1743) was an important leader in a historical event called the Jacobite rising of 1715. People often called him simply Mackintosh of Borlum. He was a military officer who fought for the Jacobite cause, which supported the return of the Stuart family to the throne of Great Britain.

Fighting for the Jacobites (1715)

William Mackintosh, who was the 4th leader of the Borlum family, had already gained some fame while serving in the French army. When the Jacobite rising of 1715 began, supporting James Francis Edward Stuart, Mackintosh of Borlum and the chief of the Clan Mackintosh marched into the town of Inverness. There, they publicly announced their support for King James.

Mackintosh of Borlum even stopped a letter that would have made Munro of Foulis the commander of Inverness for the government. The main leader of the Jacobite uprising was John Erskine, Earl of Mar. He sent a group of 2,500 men under Brigadier Mackintosh of Borlum's command.

Crossing the Forth

These men crossed the Firth of Forth by boat on October 11 and 12, 1715. However, only about 1,500 of them made it across, including all of the Mackintosh soldiers. Mackintosh of Borlum nearly captured Edinburgh, but the city was too well protected.

Instead, he took control of Leith, a port town, and set up defenses in an old fort built by Oliver Cromwell. The Duke of Argyll, who supported the government, approached the fort. But he soon realized an attack would be useless without cannons, and the Jacobite soldiers were ready to fight. So, he pulled back.

Marching into England

Brigadier Mackintosh of Borlum then moved to Seton House. On October 18, he received orders from Mar to march into England. His mission was to join forces with Lord Kenmure and an English Jacobite leader named Thomas Forster.

However, the Jacobite march into England turned out to be a disaster. Mackintosh of Borlum had actually been against this plan. He wanted to meet up with other Jacobite clans under General Gordon in Scotland. He believed this would have at least secured Scotland for the Jacobites.

Battle and Escape

Instead, the Jacobite army, now led by Forster, was defeated at the Battle of Preston in Lancashire. During the battle, attacks on Brigadier Mackintosh of Borlum's defenses were repeatedly pushed back, causing many losses for the attackers.

But with the Jacobite defeat, Brigadier Mackintosh of Borlum was captured and held prisoner. He was sent to Newgate Prison in the City of London. On April 14, 1716, he was accused of a serious crime against the government, along with Forster. They both said they were not guilty and had three weeks to prepare for their trial on May 5, 1716.

However, Forster escaped from prison on May 4. Mackintosh, along with about fifteen other prisoners, managed to overpower the guards and escape too. Seven of them were caught again in the busy streets of London, but the rest, including Brigadier Mackintosh of Borlum, got away. The government offered a reward of £1,000 for his capture. Some historians believe Mackintosh of Borlum should have led the uprising instead of Mar.

Another Uprising (1719)

Brigadier William Mackintosh, 4th of Borlum, escaped abroad after his prison break. His father, the 3rd of Borlum, passed away that same year.

Mackintosh of Borlum returned to Scotland with a small force of about 6,000 Scottish and Spanish soldiers during the Jacobite rising of 1719. These soldiers had landed on the Isle of Lewis under the command of William Murray, Marquess of Tullibardine. However, they were later defeated at the Battle of Glen Shiel.

Mackintosh of Borlum managed to stay hidden in Scotland for some time. But he was eventually caught and imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle. He spent the rest of his life in prison. After being held captive for nearly 25 years, he died on January 7, 1743, at the age of 80. He remained loyal to his Jacobite beliefs until the end.

While in prison, he wrote a book about farming. The year before he died, he also published a plan for stopping crime in the Scottish Highlands. This plan was reportedly still being used successfully 30 years later.

His Family

William Mackintosh, 4th of Borlum, was married to Mary Reade. They had two sons named Lachlan and Shaw. Both sons moved to the Colony of Georgia in America. They joined a British Army regiment called the Highland Rangers, which was put together by James Oglethorpe. Lachlan and Shaw both fought in a conflict known as the War of Jenkins' Ear. William Mackintosh was succeeded as head of the family by his eldest son.

Bagpipe Music

There is a bagpipe tune called "Mackintosh of Borlum's Salute." This piece of music was written to honor Brigadier William Mackintosh, 4th of Borlum.