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Historical Figures:
Rob Roy
Macgregor
Robert 'Roy' Macgregor
(1671-1734) Given the nickname 'Ruadh' / 'Roy' because of his wild red
hair. His Clan were both Protestant and Jacobite. At 18 he took part in the
battle of Killiecrankie where Jacobites under the command of Viscount Dundee
opposed the replacement of their Stuart King with William of Orange.
Rob Roy visited the town of
Crieff on many occasions, often to sell cattle. In the second week
of October 1714 the Highlanders gathered in Crieff for the annual market.
Civil war was expected at any time. By day Crieff was also full of soldiers
and government spies! Just after midnight, Rob Roy and his men marched to
Crieff Town Square and rang the Town bell. In front of the gathering crowd
sang Jacobite songs and drank a good many loyal toasts to their uncrowned
King James VIII. I
Check out Crieff
on this site or on
Perthshire-Scotland.co.uk.
In the 1715 he initially fought
on the Jacobite side and his Macgregors raided the lands around Loch Lomond.
However his benefactor the Duke of Argyll had chosen the Government side
and Rob Roy with mixed allegiances was forced to miss the Battle of
Sheriffmuir which took place on the souther fringes of Strathearn.
Even so he became a marked man and was hunted for almost 10 years escaping
capture on several occasions.
In 1725 he surrendered to
General Wade, the great builder of roads in the Highlands, narrowly missed
transportation to the colonies and was pardoned to end his days at
Balquhidder to the west of Loch Earn. |
