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James Drummond, 6th Earl and 3rd titular Duke of Perth (11 May 171313 May 1746) was a
Scottish Scottish usually refers to something of, from, or related to Scotland, including: *Scottish Gaelic, a Celtic Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family native to Scotland *Scottish English *Scottish national identity, the Scottish ide ...
landowner best known for his participation in the
Jacobite rising of 1745 The Jacobite rising of 1745, also known as the Forty-five Rebellion or simply the '45 ( gd, Bliadhna Theàrlaich, , ), was an attempt by Charles Edward Stuart to regain the Monarchy of Great Britain, British throne for his father, James Franci ...
, during which
Charles Edward Stuart Charles Edward Louis John Sylvester Maria Casimir Stuart (20 December 1720 – 30 January 1788) was the elder son of James Francis Edward Stuart, grandson of James II and VII, and the Stuart claimant to the thrones of England, Scotland and ...
attempted to regain the British throne for the
House of Stuart The House of Stuart, originally spelt Stewart, was a royal house of Scotland, England, Ireland and later Great Britain. The family name comes from the office of High Steward of Scotland, which had been held by the family progenitor Walter fi ...
. Perth was one of two active lieutenant-generals of the Jacobite Army, although past historiography of the rising has tended to minimise his role.Pittock, M. (2016) ''Culloden'', OUP, p.26 Following the defeat at Culloden, he escaped on a French ship with several other Jacobite leaders, but died during the voyage.


Early life

James Drummond was born on 11 May 1713 at
Drummond Castle Drummond Castle is located in Perthshire, Scotland. The castle is known for its gardens, described by Historic Environment Scotland as "the best example of formal terraced gardens in Scotland." It is situated in Muthill parish, south of Crieff. ...
,
Perthshire Perthshire (locally: ; gd, Siorrachd Pheairt), officially the County of Perth, is a historic county and registration county in central Scotland. Geographically it extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, ...
. He was the eldest son of
James Drummond, 2nd Duke of Perth James Drummond, 2nd Duke of Perth, etc., (c. 167417 April 1720) was a Scottish nobleman. He held the Peerage created for his father, James Drummond, 4th Earl of Perth, by the exiled Stuart monarchs at St Germain. Life The eldest son and heir of ...
and Jane, daughter of the 1st Duke of Gordon. Perth's family had been closely associated with the Stuarts for several generations. His grandfather the 4th Earl and 1st Duke was
Lord Chancellor of Scotland The Lord Chancellor of Scotland, formally the Lord High Chancellor, was a Great Officer of State in the Kingdom of Scotland. Holders of the office are known from 1123 onwards, but its duties were occasionally performed by an official of lower st ...
between 1684 and 1688; he converted to Catholicism after the accession of
James II and VII James VII and II (14 October 1633 16 September 1701) was King of England and King of Ireland as James II, and King of Scotland as James VII from the death of his elder brother, Charles II, on 6 February 1685. He was deposed in the Glorious Re ...
. Following the
Glorious Revolution The Glorious Revolution; gd, Rèabhlaid Ghlòrmhor; cy, Chwyldro Gogoneddus , also known as the ''Glorieuze Overtocht'' or ''Glorious Crossing'' in the Netherlands, is the sequence of events leading to the deposition of King James II and ...
he departed for France, becoming chamberlain to James's wife
Mary of Modena Mary of Modena ( it, Maria Beatrice Eleonora Anna Margherita Isabella d'Este; ) was Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland as the second wife of James II and VII. A devout Roman Catholic, Mary married the widower James, who was then the young ...
.Szechi, Daniel (2012) "The Scottish Jacobite Diaspora" in Devine and Wormald (eds) ''The Oxford Handbook of Modern Scottish History'', OUP, p.360 The 2nd Duke was attainted for his role in the
Jacobite rising of 1715 The Jacobite rising of 1715 ( gd, Bliadhna Sheumais ; or 'the Fifteen') was the attempt by James Edward Stuart (the Old Pretender) to regain the thrones of England, Ireland and Scotland for the exiled Stuarts The House of Stuart, ori ...
, but had preserved the large family estates by signing them over to his eldest son beforehand. Perth was brought up at Drummond Castle until his father's death in exile in 1720, and was then sent for education at the
Scots College, Douai The Scottish College or Scots College at Douai was a seminary founded in Douai, France, for the training of Scottish Roman Catholic exiles for the priesthood. It was modelled on the similar English College there, founded for the same purpose. I ...
. He returned to Scotland in the early 1730s; despite the title being unrecognised by the government, he was often styled as the 3rd Duke.De Troy, "Drummond, James, styled sixth earl of Perth and Jacobite third duke of Perth", Dictionary of National Biography Most contemporaries described him as an amiable man with a facility for getting on well with people of all social ranks: it was noted that Perth "never properly learned the English language, but invariably used broad Scots".Stewart-Murray, K (ed) (1908) ''A Military History of Perthshire, 1660–1902'', J Hay, p.314 As a landlord, Perth showed a strong interest in agricultural improvement; he set out plans for a new settlement at
Callander Callander (; gd, Calasraid) is a small town in the council area of Stirling, Scotland, situated on the River Teith. The town is located in the historic county of Perthshire and is a popular tourist stop to and from the Highlands. The town ser ...
in 1739, and was a member of the "Honourable Society of Improvers in the Knowledge of Agriculture in Scotland".MacInnes, P
The Jacobite Duke of Perth
''Journal of the Northumbrian Jacobite Society'', Feb 2014
He was also well known for breeding race horses: his horses ran at
York York is a cathedral city with Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. It is the historic county town of Yorkshire. The city has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a ...
and
Doncaster Doncaster (, ) is a city in South Yorkshire, England. Named after the River Don, it is the administrative centre of the larger City of Doncaster. It is the second largest settlement in South Yorkshire after Sheffield. Doncaster is situated in ...
several times during the early 1740s, and his bay gelding ''Chance'' won the Edinburgh Royal Plate in 1739.Smith, N. (1825) ''Observations on breeding for the turf'', Whittaker, p.152. There was a tale that ''Chance'' was the horse Perth later rode at Culloden (''Scottish Notes and Queries'', v4 (1891), p.149)


Jacobite rising

Although dismissed by Walpole as a "silly horse-racing boy", Perth was recognised by the government as one of the more committed Jacobite sympathisers,Reid, S. (1996) ''1745: A Military History of the Last Jacobite Rising'', Sarpedon, p.23 particularly as their reports identified his influence over "a Considerable Number of Barrons and Gentlemen of the Name of Drummond".Pittock, M (2001) ''Scottish Nationality'', Macmillan, p.68 In 1740, as French statesmen began to consider the possibilities of supporting the Jacobites as a counter to British interests, he formed a pro-Stuart "Association" with
Lord Lovat Lord Lovat ( gd, Mac Shimidh) is a title of the rank Lord of Parliament in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1458 for Hugh Fraser, 1st Lord Lovat, Hugh Fraser by summoning him to the Scottish Parliament as Lord Fraser of Lovat, altho ...
, Lochiel and a number of other gentry. In mid 1743
John Murray of Broughton Sir John Murray of Broughton, 7th Baronet of Stanhope (c. 1715 – 6 December 1777), also known as Murray of Broughton, was a Scottish baronet, who served as Jacobite Secretary of State during the 1745 Rising. As such, he was responsible for J ...
, the main Jacobite agent in Scotland, sounded Perth out on whether an independent rising there was feasible "should the French disappoint us"; he found Perth "abundantly forward"."John Murray's Papers" in Blaikie, Walter (1916) ''Origins of the forty-five'', Scottish History Society, p.35 Perth later claimed to have secured a promise of support for any rising from the mayor and aldermen of York.Blaikie (1916) p.37


1745

On Charles's landing in Scotland in July 1745, Perth was one of the first sent a letter asking for support. The government were concerned enough by his local influence to send Duncan Campbell of Inverawe to Castle Drummond to detain him; Perth escaped by climbing out of a window. He joined Charles at the town of
Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...
in September, accompanied by around 200 tenants from
Crieff Crieff (; gd, Craoibh, meaning "tree") is a Scottish market town in Perth and Kinross on the A85 road between Perth and Crianlarich, and the A822 between Greenloaning and Aberfeldy. The A822 joins the A823 to Dunfermline. Crieff has become ...
who were formed into the Duke of Perth's Regiment. Due in part to the penalties imposed on the area after the 1715 rising, Perth had difficulty raising men and the recruits were fewer than had been hoped.Aikman, C. (ed) (2012) ''No Quarter Given: The Muster Roll of Prince Charles Edward Stuart's Army'', N Wilson, p.65 However, further men raised in the north-east joined Perth's regiment at
Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...
; these included a group of volunteers from Aberdeen led by a lawyer, Roger Sandilands,McKenzie-Annand, A. "Lord Pitsligo's Horse in the Army of Prince Charles Edward", ''Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research'' Vol. 60, No. 244 (WINTER 1982), p. 227 and the 'Enzie' battalion from
Banffshire Banffshire ; sco, Coontie o Banffshire; gd, Siorrachd Bhanbh) is a historic county, registration county and lieutenancy area of Scotland. The county town is Banff, although the largest settlement is Buckie to the west. It borders the Moray ...
under John Hamilton of Sandistoun, the Duke of Gordon's estate factor and a veteran of 1715. With the addition of some Highlanders of
Clan Gregor Clan Gregor, also known as Clan MacGregor, () is a Highland Scottish clan that claims an origin in the early 9th century. The clan's most famous member is Rob Roy MacGregor of the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The Clan is also known to hav ...
and a number of 'deserters' from government service, Perth's regiment reached a strength of 750 by the time of the army's invasion of England.Seton, Sir Bruce (1928) ''The Prisoners of the '45'', vol I, Scottish History Society, p. 322 Its officers included James Johnstone and the Englishman John Daniel, later prominent memoirists of the rising. Despite his relative youth, Charles commissioned Perth as the senior lieutenant-general of the Jacobite army alongside the older and far more experienced Lord George Murray. There was initially an arrangement that the two men would take command on alternate days;Reid, S. (2012) ''The Scottish Jacobite Army 1745-6'', Bloomsbury, pp. 43–45 although in practice this meant they rarely interfered with each other's decisions, James Maxwell of Kirkconnell claimed that Murray was unhappy with serving under someone "certainly much inferior to him in years and experience".Maxwell, James. ''Narrative of Charles Prince of Wales' Expedition to Scotland in the Year 1745'', Edinburgh: Maitland Club, p.65 At
Prestonpans Prestonpans ( gd, Baile an t-Sagairt, Scots: ''The Pans'') is a small mining town, situated approximately eight miles east of Edinburgh, Scotland, in the Council area of East Lothian. The population as of is. It is near the site of the 1745 ...
, where the Jacobites defeated a Government force under Cope, Perth led the right wing brigade, made up of the MacDonald clan regiments, while Murray commanded the left wing. Despite concerns over his practical military knowledge, Perth was personally well-liked. Kirkconnell said that he was "much beloved and esteemed even by those who did not wish to see him at the head of an army".Maxwell, James. ''Narrative of Charles Prince of Wales' Expedition to Scotland in the Year 1745'', Edinburgh: Maitland Club, p.66 Another colleague,
Lord Elcho Earl of Wemyss ( ) is a title in the Peerage of Scotland created in 1633. The Scottish Wemyss family had possessed the lands of Wemyss in Fife since the 12th century. Since 1823 the earldom has been held with the Earldom of March, created in ...
, said that Perth was "a very brave man" but claimed that he had "little genius" and was unquestioningly obedient to Charles,Tayler (ed) (1948) ''A Jacobite Miscellany'', Oxford: Roxburghe Club, p.180 opinions echoed by Johnstone, who described Perth as "brave, even to excess, every way honourable utof very limited abilities". Murray's frustrations came to a head at the siege of Carlisle, where he also suggested that as a Catholic Perth was a politically unwise choice of army commander for an English campaign. As Murray admitted he "understood nothing of sieges", Perth took the lead role, attempting to recall the mathematics and fortification he had studied in France.Duffy, C. (2015) ''The Fortress in the Age of Vauban and Frederick the Great'', Routledge, p.172 Although the Jacobites secured the town's capitulation, Murray was unhappy with the handling of the siege and resigned: Perth gracefully relinquished his commanding role and Murray was reinstated, but the episode heightened tensions between the army's senior figures.Murray's resignation cited the lack of weight his advice as general had with Charles, but Maxwell said there was a general understanding that Perth's command was an issue. He retained the colonelcy of his own regiment, and membership of the Jacobite 'Council of War', on the march southwards. Perth had previously written to the Jacobite
Tory A Tory () is a person who holds a political philosophy known as Toryism, based on a British version of traditionalism and conservatism, which upholds the supremacy of social order as it has evolved in the English culture throughout history. Th ...
MP for
Denbighshire Denbighshire ( ; cy, Sir Ddinbych; ) is a county in the north-east of Wales. Its borders differ from the historic county of the same name. This part of Wales contains the country's oldest known evidence of habitation – Pontnewydd (Bontnewy ...
Watkin Williams-Wynn authorising him to recruit for the rising,Thomas, P. D. G. (1998) ''Politics in Eighteenth-century Wales'', University of Wales Preas, p.144 and at
Derby Derby ( ) is a city and unitary authority area in Derbyshire, England. It lies on the banks of the River Derwent in the south of Derbyshire, which is in the East Midlands Region. It was traditionally the county town of Derbyshire. Derby gai ...
, where the Council voted to retreat to Scotland due to a lack of visible English and French support, he was one of the few members to suggest they march to
North Wales , area_land_km2 = 6,172 , postal_code_type = Postcode , postal_code = LL, CH, SY , image_map1 = Wales North Wales locator map.svg , map_caption1 = Six principal areas of Wales common ...
. In the interim Perth's younger brother John Drummond, a French regular, had arrived in Montrose with reinforcements, taking over in Scotland from
Viscount Strathallan {{Use dmy dates, date=November 2019 The title of Lord Maderty was created in 1609 for James Drummond, a younger son of the 2nd Lord Drummond of Cargill. The titles of Viscount Strathallan and Lord Drummond of Cromlix were created in 1686 for Willia ...
; for the remainder of the campaign Drummond, Murray and Perth would jointly act as brigade commanders. On the march north he was sent ahead to Scotland, accompanied by Murray of Broughton's Hussar regiment, to bring reinforcements; Perth's group had to turn back to
Kendal Kendal, once Kirkby in Kendal or Kirkby Kendal, is a market town and civil parish in the South Lakeland district of Cumbria, England, south-east of Windermere and north of Lancaster. Historically in Westmorland, it lies within the dale of th ...
after they were attacked by militia.Aikman (2012), p.43


1746

At
Stirling Stirling (; sco, Stirlin; gd, Sruighlea ) is a city in central Scotland, northeast of Glasgow and north-west of Edinburgh. The market town, surrounded by rich farmland, grew up connecting the royal citadel, the medieval old town with its me ...
, the strategic key to the Highlands, Perth was in charge of the forces blockading the Government garrison in the castle. The siege was unsuccessful and following the Jacobite victory at
Falkirk Falkirk ( gd, An Eaglais Bhreac, sco, Fawkirk) is a large town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland, historically within the county of Stirlingshire. It lies in the Forth Valley, northwest of Edinburgh and northeast of Glasgow. Falkirk had a ...
on 17 January 1746, the army withdrew towards
Inverness Inverness (; from the gd, Inbhir Nis , meaning "Mouth of the River Ness"; sco, Innerness) is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for The Highland Council and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands. Histori ...
. From here, Perth was responsible for a number of minor actions including the so-called "
Battle of Dornoch The Battle of Dornoch took place on 20 March 1746 and was part of the Jacobite rising of 1745 in Scotland. However, although recorded in history as a "battle"MacLeod. p. 333. there was no actual fighting between the two sides. Instead a large reb ...
" on 20 March, an amphibious assault across the Dornoch Firth against
Loudoun Loudoun ( gd, Lughdan) is a parish in East Ayrshire, Scotland and lies between five and ten miles east of Kilmarnock. The parish roughly encompasses the northern half of the Upper-Irvine Valley and borders Galston Parish (which encompasses the ...
which has been called "the most accomplished that was staged by either side in the course of the rising".Duffy, "The '45 Campaign" in Pollard (ed) ''Culloden'', Kindle ed, loc 659 At Culloden, where the Jacobite army was finally defeated, Perth again commanded a brigade made up largely of the Clan Donald regiments, this time on the army's left flank adjoining Culloden Park. The Jacobite adjutant-general
O'Sullivan O'Sullivan ( ga, Ó Súilleabháin, Súileabhánach) is an Irish Gaelic clan based most prominently in what is today County Cork and County Kerry. The surname is associated with the southwestern part of Ireland, and was originally found in County ...
later wrote that on seeing the left wing troops reluctant to advance across boggy ground, Perth ran "to Clanranald's Regiment takes their Collors & tells them from that day forth he'l call himself MacDonel if they'll gain the day".Reid, S. in Pollard (ed) ''Culloden'', Kindle ed, 2273 According to some accounts, Perth was wounded in the hand and back at Culloden. He appeared at Ruthven Barracks the following day, where the army was told by Charles to disperse; after this his movements become less certain.


Escape and death at sea

Several of the Rising's participants, including Elcho and Perth, were able to escape on one of the French ships that landed at
Borrodale Borrodale ( gd, Borodail) is small hamlet on the Isle of Skye, in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Borrodale is part of Glendale and the Glendale Estate, in the parish of Duirinish. Borrodale is where the local primary school for Glendale was ...
on 3 May. Perth had always been said to have had a delicate constitution following a childhood accident; the campaign had taken a high physical toll on the participants and some accounts suggest that by this point he was unwell and was being carried by retainers. John Daniel later recalled seeing Perth waiting on the shore "wrapped up in a blanket"; he told Daniel "if we are so fortunate to get to France, depend upon it, then I shall always be your friend"."John Daniel's Progress" in Blaikie, Walter (1916) ''Origins of the forty-five'', Scottish History Society, p.222 During the voyage to France there was an epidemic of fever on the ships and Perth, on board the ''
Bellone Bellone is a white Italian wine grape variety that wine historians believed was cultivated in Roman times. By 1990, nearly of the variety was still being cultivated and eligible to be blended in the wines of several Latium ''Denominazione di ori ...
'', was among those who died, on 13 May: as the ships were not able to reach the coast, he was buried at sea.Wemyss (2003) ''Elcho of the '45'', Saltire Society, p.127 In a period when the Jacobite sympathies of many were the result of a complex mixture of political, religious, familial and other local factors, Perth's motivation appeared relatively straightforward to contemporaries: recording his death, Elcho wrote that "he was a very brave and gallant man and entirely devoted to the House of Stuart". Perth had no children, and his younger brother John inherited the claim to the ducal title. , -


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Perth, James Drummond, 3rd Duke of 1713 births 1746 deaths 18th-century Scottish people Earls of Perth Dukes of Perth Jacobite military personnel of the Jacobite rising of 1745 Scottish generals Scottish Jacobites