George Munro, 1st Of Newmore
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Sir George Munro, 1st of Newmore (1602–1693) was a 17th-century Scottish soldier and shire commissioner of Parliament from the Clan Munro,
Ross-shire Ross-shire (; ), or the County of Ross, was a county in the Scottish Highlands. It bordered Sutherland to the north and Inverness-shire to the south, as well as having a complex border with Cromartyshire, a county consisting of numerous enc ...
,
Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...
. He was seated at Newmore Castle. Between 1629 and 1634 Munro held command in the Swedish army during the
Thirty Years' War The Thirty Years' War, fought primarily in Central Europe between 1618 and 1648, was one of the most destructive conflicts in History of Europe, European history. An estimated 4.5 to 8 million soldiers and civilians died from battle, famine ...
, and from 1642 in the Scottish Covenanter army during the
Irish Confederate Wars The Irish Confederate Wars, took place from 1641 to 1653. It was the Irish theatre of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, a series of civil wars in Kingdom of Ireland, Ireland, Kingdom of England, England and Kingdom of Scotland, Scotland, all then ...
before changing his allegiance to the Royalist cause of Charles I in 1648 during the Scottish Civil War and Irish Confederate Wars.


Lineage

George Munro, 1st of Newmore was the third son of Colonel John Munro, 2nd of Obsdale,Mackenzie. p. 175. who was, in turn, a son of George Munro, 1st of Obsdale, who in turn was a younger son of Robert Mor Munro, 15th Baron of Foulis, chief of the Clan Munro. George's elder brother was Sir Robert Munro, 3rd Baronet of Foulis, who became chief of the Clan Munro in 1651. As a cadet of the Munro of Obsdale family, George is also sometimes referred to as George Munro of Obsdale and as he later owned the lands of Culrain is also sometimes referred to as George Munro of Culrain.


Thirty Years' War

Munro grew up a bold, powerful and fearless man, playing a conspicuous part in the history and feuds of his time.Mackenzie. p. 176. He entered the army and accompanied his famous uncle, General
Robert Monro Robert Monro (died 1680) was a Scottish general from the Clan Munro of Ross-shire, Scotland. He held command in the Swedish army under Gustavus Adolphus during Thirty Years' War. He also fought for the Scottish Covenanters during the Bishop's Wa ...
(and his great-uncle, chief Robert Munro, 18th Baron of Foulis) to the Continental
Thirty Years' War The Thirty Years' War, fought primarily in Central Europe between 1618 and 1648, was one of the most destructive conflicts in History of Europe, European history. An estimated 4.5 to 8 million soldiers and civilians died from battle, famine ...
, in which he very rapidly distinguished himself. In 1629 when the war broke out between
Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, and Finland to the east. At , Sweden is the largest Nordic count ...
and
Austria Austria, formally the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine Federal states of Austria, states, of which the capital Vienna is the List of largest cities in Aust ...
, George Munro gave his services to
Gustavus Adolphus Gustavus Adolphus (9 December N.S 19 December">Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates.html" ;"title="/nowiki>Old Style and New Style dates">N.S 19 December15946 November Old Style and New Style dates">N.S 16 November] 1632), also known in English as ...
and served under him with distinction. George Munro commanded the left wing of the Swedish army at the Battle of Lützen (1632), Battle of Lutzen on 6 November 1632 in which the Swedish army was victorious over the Imperialists. However, after Lutzen, arguing ensued amongst many of the officers of the Swedish army and as a result, they were defeated at the Battle of Nördlingen.Mackenzie. p. 177. The petty differences on the part of those in command led to no properly defined plan of attack and George Munro was so disgusted with these matters that he returned home to Scotland.


Irish Confederate Wars

Munro fought in the
Irish Confederate Wars The Irish Confederate Wars, took place from 1641 to 1653. It was the Irish theatre of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, a series of civil wars in Kingdom of Ireland, Ireland, Kingdom of England, England and Kingdom of Scotland, Scotland, all then ...
under his uncle
Robert Monro Robert Monro (died 1680) was a Scottish general from the Clan Munro of Ross-shire, Scotland. He held command in the Swedish army under Gustavus Adolphus during Thirty Years' War. He also fought for the Scottish Covenanters during the Bishop's Wa ...
who commanded the Scottish
Covenanter Covenanters were members of a 17th-century Scottish religious and political movement, who supported a Presbyterian Church of Scotland and the primacy of its leaders in religious affairs. It originated in disputes with James VI and his son C ...
army. Between 1642 and 1646 George and his uncle Robert were generally successful against their enemies the O'Neils, and during that time the Munros put down a rebellion in
Ulster Ulster (; or ; or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional or historic provinces of Ireland, Irish provinces. It is made up of nine Counties of Ireland, counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United Kingdom); t ...
in 1642 and captured
Belfast Belfast (, , , ; from ) is the capital city and principal port of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan and connected to the open sea through Belfast Lough and the North Channel (Great Britain and Ireland), North Channel ...
in 1644. In 1644 Robert Monro was recalled to Scotland to oppose the Royalist victories of
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose (1612 – 21 May 1650) was a Scottish nobleman, poet, soldier and later viceroy and captain general of Scotland. Montrose initially joined the Covenanters in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, but subsequ ...
, and command of the Scottish Covenanter army in Ireland fell to his nephew George Munro, 1st of Newmore whose principles inclined him to favour the Royalists. General Robert Monro was defeated by the Irish Confederates at the Battle of Benburb in Ireland in 1646 and Carrickfergus Castle was surrendered to the English Parliamentarian George Monck in 1648. As a result, Robert Monro was imprisoned by
Oliver Cromwell Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English statesman, politician and soldier, widely regarded as one of the most important figures in British history. He came to prominence during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, initially ...
in the
Tower of London The Tower of London, officially His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic citadel and castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamle ...
. George Munro then returned to Scotland in 1648, where he was appointed General by
Charles I of England Charles I (19 November 1600 – 30 January 1649) was King of Kingdom of England, England, Kingdom of Scotland, Scotland, and Kingdom of Ireland, Ireland from 27 March 1625 until Execution of Charles I, his execution in 1649. Charles was born ...
,Mackenzie. p. 178. thus becoming a royalist.


Civil War in Scotland

George Munro, having returned to Scotland with 1200 horse and 2100 foot soldiers, was sent to support the royalist James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Hamilton. The Scottish royalists were defeated at the
Battle of Preston (1648) The battle of Preston was fought on 17 August 1648 during the Second English Civil War. A Roundhead, Parliamentarian army commanded by Lieutenant-general (United Kingdom), Lieutenant General Oliver Cromwell attacked a considerably larger force ...
by the Parliamentarian forces of
Oliver Cromwell Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English statesman, politician and soldier, widely regarded as one of the most important figures in British history. He came to prominence during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, initially ...
. But before the battle Munro had refused to serve under
James Livingston, 1st Earl of Callendar James Livingston, 1st Earl of Callendar (s – March 1674), was a Scottish army officer who fought on the Royalist side in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. Early life Livingston was the third son of Alexander Livingston, 1st Earl of Linlithgow a ...
who was the second in command under the Duke of Hamilton.Keltie. pp. 256–258. An argument had ensued, and as a result, Munro's involvement in the battle was limited. George Munro had an intense dislike for Callender, and Callendar saw no reason why Munro should be allowed an independent command. The Duke of Hamilton (Earl of Lanark) had raised three regiments of royalist horse, which were now under his command. These, with the accessions of forces which were daily arriving from different parts of the kingdom, were quite sufficient to have put down the insurrection in the west; but instead of marching, Lanark, to everyone's surprise, proceeded through
East Lothian East Lothian (; ; ) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, as well as a Counties of Scotland, historic county, registration county and Lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area. The county was called Haddingtonshire until 1921. In ...
towards the eastern borders to meet up with Sir George Munro, who was retiring upon Berwick before the army of Cromwell. The Earl of Lanark declined to attack Covenanter David Leslie, Lord Newark, acting contrary to the advice of George Munro and his other officers. According to Dr Wishart, Lanark's advanced guard, on arriving at
Musselburgh Musselburgh (; ; ) is the largest settlement in East Lothian, Scotland, on the coast of the Firth of Forth, east of Edinburgh city centre. It had a population of as of . History The name Musselburgh is Old English language, Old English in ...
, attacked some of Leslie's Covenanter outposts who defended the bridge over the River Esk, and Lanark's advanced guard, though inferior in number, immediately put them in great disorder, and killed some of them without sustaining any loss. This success was reported to the Earl of Lanark, and it was represented to him that by following it up immediately, while the enemy continued in the state of alarm, he might perhaps obtain a bloodless victory, secure possession of the city of
Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh ...
and the town of
Leith Leith (; ) is a port area in the north of Edinburgh, Scotland, founded at the mouth of the Water of Leith and is home to the Port of Leith. The earliest surviving historical references are in the royal charter authorising the construction of ...
. However, Edinburgh had already been taken by the Whig party in what was known as the Whiggamore Raid. Ever since the Earl of Lanark's march to the borders to meet Munro, Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll had been busily employed in raising men in his own territory to assist the
Covenanter Covenanters were members of a 17th-century Scottish religious and political movement, who supported a Presbyterian Church of Scotland and the primacy of its leaders in religious affairs. It originated in disputes with James VI and his son C ...
s. Shortly afterwards, Munro and his clansmen who acted as the Earl of Lanark's advance force defeated the forces of the Marquess of Argyll at the Battle of Stirling (1648). Munro had moved in on his own initiative and succeeded in entering Stirling before any of Argyll's commanders were aware of his presence. Munro even personally kicked down a postern door to chase out Argyll's men. Argyll lost about 200 men in the battle. After this victory, Munro urged Lanark to continue and attack David Leslie, but he was overruled and in the following weeks the Earl of Lanark made peace with the Marquess of Argyll and with Leslie.


Knighthood

In 1649 Munro visited
Charles II of England Charles II (29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685) was King of Scotland from 1649 until 1651 and King of England, Scotland, and King of Ireland, Ireland from the 1660 Restoration of the monarchy until his death in 1685. Charles II was the eldest su ...
in
Holland Holland is a geographical regionG. Geerts & H. Heestermans, 1981, ''Groot Woordenboek der Nederlandse Taal. Deel I'', Van Dale Lexicografie, Utrecht, p 1105 and former provinces of the Netherlands, province on the western coast of the Netherland ...
where he received the honour of knighthood with a new commission from the exiled King.Mackenzie. p. 179.


Return to Ireland

In 1649 Munro returned briefly to Ireland where he opposed Cromwell's Irish campaign and supported the royalist siege of Derry. George Munro left the siege on 7 June 1649 and proceeded to Coleraine which he also laid siege to and successfully captured. He then left Coleraine on 17 July 1649 and rejoined the siege of Derry.Mackenzie. p. 180. The besiegers built a fort at the Knock of Ember which they named Fort Charles in recognition of the king. The fort was itself besieged by the Parliamentarians who were repulsed by George Munro and his forces.Mackenzie. p. 181. The siege of Derry however was not successful and Munro was forced into a final return to Scotland in April 1650 as a result of the rout of the Scottish royalist army at the Battle of Lisnagarvey.


Royalist rising of 1651 to 1654

After the defeat of the royalists in England, Oliver Cromwell came to occupy Scotland, but many of the Highlanders waged war against him. The royalist uprising, led by William Cunningham, 9th Earl of Glencairn in support of the exiled King Charles II, began in 1651.Mackenzie. pp. 182–183. General John Middleton, 1st Earl of Middleton, a veteran of the wars against Cromwell, was appointed commander-in-chief of the royalist forces, and both he and Glencairn agreed to unite their respective forces at
Dornoch Dornoch (; ; ) is a town, seaside resort, parish and former royal burgh in the county of Sutherland in the Highlands of Scotland. It lies on the north shore of the Dornoch Firth, near to where it opens into the Moray Firth to the east. ...
in
Sutherland Sutherland () is a Counties of Scotland, historic county, registration county and lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area in the Scottish Highlands, Highlands of Scotland. The name dates from the Scandinavian Scotland, Viking era when t ...
. Munro served as an officer in General Middleton's force. However, the two factions of the royalist force engaged in petty disputes and quarrels with each other. This eventually led to a duel between Munro and the Earl of Glencairn himself, with broadswords (known in Scotland as claymores), in which both were wounded. Soon afterwards Glencairn was placed under arrest by the orders of Middleton and his sword was taken from him. However, the following day two junior officers from the two camps had a duel of their own in which one was killed and the other was later arrested and hanged. The royalist rising of the Highlanders and Lowlanders, although having various successes in skirmishes against Cromwell, was not enough and ended by the autumn of 1654.


Restoration

The Restoration of King Charles II took place in 1660 and Sir George Munro, 1st of Newmore commanded the King's forces between 1674 and 1677.Way, George and Squire, Romily. p. 283.


Shire Commissioner of Parliament

In 1661 George Munro was elected shire commissioner of Parliament for
Ross-shire Ross-shire (; ), or the County of Ross, was a county in the Scottish Highlands. It bordered Sutherland to the north and Inverness-shire to the south, as well as having a complex border with Cromartyshire, a county consisting of numerous enc ...
and continued to represent that constituency until 1663.Mackenzie. p. 187. He represented the county of
Sutherland Sutherland () is a Counties of Scotland, historic county, registration county and lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area in the Scottish Highlands, Highlands of Scotland. The name dates from the Scandinavian Scotland, Viking era when t ...
from 1669 until 1674 and was again returned for Ross-shire in 1685 and represented it until 1686. He was elected for the same county in 1689 and continued to represent it until his death in 1693. In 1691, at an advanced age, George Munro was briefly in command of an Independent Highland Company that was to keep order in the
Scottish Highlands The Highlands (; , ) is a historical region of Scotland. Culturally, the Highlands and the Scottish Lowlands, Lowlands diverged from the Late Middle Ages into the modern period, when Scots language, Lowland Scots language replaced Scottish Gae ...
. George died on 11 July 1693 at his seat Newmore Castle and was succeeded by his eldest son, Hugh Munro, 2nd of Newmore.


Family

George married firstly his cousin, Anne Munro daughter of his uncle Major-General
Robert Monro Robert Monro (died 1680) was a Scottish general from the Clan Munro of Ross-shire, Scotland. He held command in the Swedish army under Gustavus Adolphus during Thirty Years' War. He also fought for the Scottish Covenanters during the Bishop's Wa ...
and Jean, widow of Viscount Montgomery of Ardee, and had one child: #Hugh Munro, 2nd of Newmore. George married secondly in 1649 Christiana Hamilton, daughter of Sir Frederick Hamilton of Manorhamilton and sister of Gustavus Hamilton, 1st Viscount Boyne, descended from Mary, eldest daughter of King
James II of Scotland James II (16 October 1430 – 3 August 1460) was King of Scots from 1437 until his death in 1460. The eldest surviving son of James I of Scotland, he succeeded to the Scottish throne at the age of six, following the assassination of his fathe ...
. George and Christiana had the following children:Mackenzie. p. 193. #John Munro. (died 1682). # George Munro, 1st of Culrain. (From whom the present chiefs of the Clan Munro are descended). #Ann Munro. (Married first Donald Mackay, Master of Reay - second son of John Mackay, 2nd Lord Reay. She married secondly Lauchlan Mackintosh, 19th of Mackintosh.) #Jane Munro. (Married Alexander Sinclair of Brins, in
Caithness Caithness (; ; ) is a Shires of Scotland, historic county, registration county and Lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area of Scotland. There are two towns, being Wick, Caithness, Wick, which was the county town, and Thurso. The count ...
). #Isobel Munro (Married Robert Gray, 6th of Skibo). #Lucy Munro. (Married James Sinclair-Sutherland, 2nd of Swinnie.) #Helen Munro. (Married firstly Angus, eldest son of Angus Mackay of Bighouse. Married secondly, Captain Andrew Munro of Westertown, second son of Sir John Munro, 4th Baronet). #Catherine Munro. (Married George Munro of Lemlair). #Florence Munro. (Married Andrew Munro of Logie).


See also

* Clan Munro * John Munro, 4th of Newmore


References


Bibliography

* *Keltie, John S F.S.A. Scot. (1830).
History of the Scottish Highlands, Highland Clans and Scottish Regiments
'. *Mackenzie, Alexander. (1898).
History of the Munros of Foulis
'. Edinburgh. *Monroe, Horace (Canon of Southwark). (1926).

'. *Munro, R.W. (1987). ''Mapping the Clan Munro''. Published by the Clan Munro (Association). *Reid, Stuart. (1998). ''All the King's Armies: a military history of the English Civil War 1642-1651''. Staplehurst. *Simpson, Peter. (1996). ''The Independent Highland Companies, 1603 - 1760''. . *Way, George and Squire, Romily. (1994). ''Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia''. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs). {{DEFAULTSORT:Munro, George 1st Of Newmore 1602 births 1693 deaths Scottish mercenaries Scottish knights George Munro, 1st of Newmore Shire Commissioners to the Parliament of Scotland Scottish people of the Thirty Years' War Members of the Parliament of Scotland 1661–1663 Members of the Parliament of Scotland 1669–1674 Members of the Parliament of Scotland 1685–1686 Members of the Parliament of Scotland 1689–1702 17th-century Scottish military personnel