3 Women of the Jacobite Risings

Everybody loves a good rebel. From real-life rebels like Rosa Parks to fictional rebels like Claire from Outlander, history and fiction are filled with stories of both women and men who have ignited passion and instigated change. And here in Scotland, we are the land of a famous rebellion; the Jacobite Risings. 

Some of you will know about the Jacobite Risings from history, others will know of it thanks to the book and TV series Outlander. The love for Outlander has spread far and wide, drawing the world’s eye to our bonnie wee land, as well as drawing visitors. There’s a reason we have Outlander specific tours running from both Edinburgh and Glasgow. 

And we love it here in Scotland, too, which is why we’re just as excited about the upcoming new season in the TV series, out this November. While the newer seasons are set in America, it all started here in Scotland. People were drawn to the story, to the rebellious spirit that encompasses the show, and to the stories and passion of Scotland. 

With the new season coming, it got us thinking about what it was that drew people to this story in the first place. It was more than the love of Scotland and the love story itself; many were enthralled by the dramatic and harrowing battles the characters found themselves facing. At the heart of those challenges was the Jacobite Risings. Fans fell for the spirits of Claire, Jamie, Dougal, and all the other passionate Jacobites in the first few seasons of the show. 

And at the heart of it all was Claire, a rebel if ever we saw one. So, what about those real-life Claires? You may already know names like Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Duke of Cumberland, the Jacobites and the Redcoats. But like with any significant historical battle, the stories are endless, but some you may never have heard of before. 

Did you know how many women played a vital role in the Jacobite Rebellion? Let us showcase a few of these incredible and brave women for you now. 

Coming up in this blog:

  • What Were the Jacobite Risings?

  • 3 Women of the Jacobite Risings

    • Margaret Ogilvy

    • Colonel Anne Mackintosh

    • Flora MacDonald

  • Discover the Places of the Jacobite Risings

What Were the Jacobite Risings? 

The Jacobite Rebellion in Scotland spanned from the late 17th to mid-18th centuries. It was a series of uprisings aimed at restoring the exiled Stuart monarchy to the British throne. The movement was primarily supported by people known as the Jacobites, and they rallied behind James II of England and VII of Scotland and, later, his descendants, most notably his grandson Charles Edward Stuart, known as “Bonnie Prince Charlie”. 

The most famous rebellion was a battle in 1745 and was led by Bonnie Prince Charlie. The rebellion culminated in the Battle of Culloden in April 1746, where the Jacobite forces were defeated by the British Army under the Duke of Cumberland. 

This defeat led to the end of the Jacobite Risings and had severe consequences for Scotland's Highland way of life, including, among other things, land seizures, the banning of traditional Highland dress, and the dismantling of the clan system. 

3 Women of the Jacobite Risings 

We could talk forever about those who supported the Jacobite cause, both men and women who fought proudly for their beliefs. But here we will focus on 3 women who played important roles in the rebellion. 

Margaret Ogilvy 

Lady Margaret Ogilvy was a Scottish noblewoman who openly supported the Jacobite cause, she even accompanied the Jacobite army to several battles. Some of her notable achievements included: 

  • In 1745, she accompanied her husband on the battlefield, front and centre of the regiment alongside her husband and the other soldiers. 

  • In 1745, she tore down a poster of King George and was accused of ‘inciting violence’, while her husband stood with a drawn sword to intimidate a bailie into announcing the Jacobite leader James VI and I was the true king of Scotland. 

  • She joined the reserve force at the Battle of Falkirk Muir. 

  • After the Battle of Culloden, she was captured and imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle, but she escaped just a few months later. How? Reports claim she traded clothes with her washerwoman and, with the help of her sister, fled to join her husband in France. 

  • In 1747, she was criticised in an anti-Jacobite pamphlet called The Female Rebel. 

Colonel Anne Mackintosh 

We adore Anne Mackintosh. She’s the very definition of a powerhouse woman. Born 1723, Anne was the daughter to the Chief of Clan Farquharson and the wife of Angus Mackintosh, Chief of the Clan Mackintosh. But what we really care about is that she was one of the few female military leaders during the Jacobite uprising of 1745 and was the first female to hold the rank of colonel in Scotland. Here are a few things you should know about the Colonel’s achievements: 

  • She was known as Lady Mackintosh, was dubbed Colonel Mackintosh by her own husband, and was even nicknamed La Belle Rebelle, the beautiful rebel, by Bonnie Prince Charlie. 

  • Her husband, Angus Mackintosh, was a known anti-Jacobite and fought for the British... but that didn’t stop Anne from throwing her support 100% into the Jacobite cause. 

  • In 1745, Anne was only 22 years old when she raised hundreds of men for the Jacobite cause. 

  • In 1746, she used a clever ruse known as “the rout of Moy” to scare off 1500 government Highlanders planning to capture the Prince while staying at her home Moy Hall. 

  • Anne prevented a local woman, Anne McKay, from being publicly whipped for aiding a Jacobite officer. 

But perhaps our favourite ‘stick it to the man’ story is after the defeat at the Culloden, when Anne later met Prince William, the Duke of Cumberland, at a social event in London, the Prince asked her to dance to a pro-Government song but she returned the favour by asking him to dance to a Jacobite tune. 

Flora MacDonald 

Now this name you may recongise. Flora MacDonald is widely known for aiding Bonnie Prince Charlie escape after the defeat at Culloden. Flora risked her life to devise an escape route for the prince, dressing him as her Irish maid and smuggling him from the Isle of Skye to France right under the nose of the British. 

Once the prince was free and clear, MacDonald was arrested and imprisoned in the Tower of London. Friends and aristocratic sympathisers worked to free her, and she eventually returned to her life. Her bravery became legendary, inspiring ballads and tales of Scottish heroism. And that famous Outlander theme song comes to mind here. You may know it from the show, or from the pages of history, as The Skye Boat Song. This famous tune was inspired by the heroic acts of Flora MacDonald. 

Discover the Places of the Jacobite Risings 

There are so many more amazing women who fought for the Jacobite Rebellion that we could talk about. Jenny Cameron, the “Rebel Lady” of Lochaber. Christian Shaw and the “Thread Spinners”. Lady Winifred Maxwell’s daring rescue of her husband from the Tower of London. All incredible stories. Perhaps ones to save for later... when you’re on the road in Scotland discovering these meaningful places for yourselves.

Perhaps you’ll visit the Culloden Battlefield and learn about those who fought and died there. Perhaps you’ll stare out at the rugged beauty of the Isle of Skye and picture yourself as the famous Flora MacDonald courting a disguised prince around. Every inch of Scotland has a story to tell, and stories we have plenty of.

And why not let our driver-guides be the storyteller to your adventurer? They’re full of stories and they’re waiting to share them with you, which includes many Outlander stories. From our 1-day Outlander tours to our 4-day from Edinburgh, not to mention other filming location tours, our driver-guides will regale you with the true stories behind the sites used as filming locations on the show and from the book. It’s as close as one can get to history, and to the rebellions themselves. 

Sign up to our newsletter where you’ll be one of the first to know about new departure points, tour dates, and Black Friday travel offers.