The Battle of Prestonpans, 1745

The Battle of Prestonpans, also known as the Battle of Gladsmuir, was fought on September 21, 1745 between the Jacobite army led by Bonnie Prince Charlie and the government forces led by Sir John Cope. The battle was a decisive victory for the Jacobites and marked the beginning of the second Jacobite Rising, also known as the ’45 Rebellion.

The Jacobite army, made up of Highland clansmen and a small number of French troops, had invaded Scotland in July 1745 with the goal of reclaiming the British throne for the Stuart dynasty. They quickly gained support from the Scottish people and by September, their army had grown to around 5,000 men.

Sir John Cope, a veteran of the War of the Spanish Succession, was tasked with stopping the Jacobite rebellion. He led a government army of around 3,000 men to confront the Jacobites near the town of Prestonpans.

On the morning of September 21, the Jacobite army, under the command of Lord George Murray, launched a surprise attack on Cope’s camp. The government forces were caught off guard and were quickly routed. The Jacobites inflicted heavy casualties on the government army, while suffering relatively few themselves. The battle lasted only around 20 minutes, making it one of the shortest and most one-sided battles in British history.

The victory at Prestonpans boosted the morale of the Jacobite army and gave them a much-needed boost in numbers as many Scottish clans joined their cause. The Jacobites then went on to march into England, taking the cities of Carlisle and Manchester before being defeated at the Battle of Culloden in April 1746.

The Battle of Prestonpans is seen as a significant event in Scottish history as it marked the last time a Scottish army successfully invaded England. It also served as a reminder of the strong Jacobite sentiment that existed in Scotland at the time and the desire for a separate Scottish identity.

Today, the site of the battle is marked by a monument and a visitor center, which provide information and context about the battle and its significance in Scottish history. It is a popular destination for history enthusiasts and visitors interested in learning more about the Jacobite rebellion and Scotland’s role in the British Isles.