Just how widespread and active were the Highland Clans in support of the Jacobite cause, did it differ in 1719 and 1745, and were there any notable clans who opposed the cause?

by DBHT14

What rough % of the Highlands supported the wars with each attempt, did some who were active in 19 stay out for memory of losses suffered, or some who had been on the sideline decide to join up in 45?

If any were supportive still of George I and then II during the risings did they suffer attacks during and after or in turn take revenge on their rebellious neighbors or was the divide mostly between the Highlands and Lowlands instead?

LeChevalierMal-Fait

What rough % of the Highlands supported the wars with each attempt, did some who were active in 19 stay out for memory of losses suffered, or some who had been on the sideline decide to join up in 45?

I can’t give you a percentage but it will have been very low.

For the 19 specifically a percentage wouldn’t tell you very much, as it was nipped in the bud in the highlands while still only 1000 or so strong (including a couple of hundred Spaniards) by the defeat at Glen Shiel. So they never had the opportunity to raise widespread support.

However the nucleus of that revolt is still interesting to consider who the nucleus of this is. For some context that in the period around 1750 you have between 50-60 major clans. However for the 19, it was only supported by two major clans and some “outcasts”/“robber clans” notably Rob Roy MacGregor. This is typical and each part of that coalition will have their own motivations for joining, regaining political power and access to public office, or in the case of the “robber clans” a return to legitimacy and amnesty from outlawdom.

And again during the 45, the nucleus was formed by the Cameron’s of Lochiel who had provided the majority of troops for the 19 as well. So Lord Cameron cannot have been put off by the earlier failure. As for anyone else they didn’t have much of a choice, the system in the Highlands was one where land was rented out in exchange for military service if the Chiefs so they followed.

If any were supportive still of George I and then II during the risings did they suffer attacks during and after or in turn take revenge on their rebellious neighbors

Most clan elites had cold feet, mostly because Prince Charles landed with no troops, so it was a big risk committing to join him. The government through its representative in Scotland Duncan Forbes, also influenced many clans to remain on the sidelines.

Do doubt the memory of previous failed uprisings helped his effort, as would the knowledge that the government had significant ability to raise money and troops if needed and that success was far from a certainty.

There were pro government highlanders; some highlanders did fight on behalf of the government in formal regiments, there were argyle regiments. The Campbell’s infamously fought at Culloden.

or was the divide mostly between the Highlands and Lowlands instead?

The vast majority of the Jacobite army that undertook the campaign to derby was lowland and Protestant (although outside of the mainstream and facing persecution). It was not a Highland versus lowland affair.

Scottish jacobitisum is defined not only by a desire to secure religious freedom but also opposition to the Act of Union which had resulted in a recession in Scotland as manufacturers were undercut in price by English counterparts and was a much more accessible/mainstream political idea than English jacobitisum.