The Siege of Stirling Castle, 1746

The Siege of Stirling Castle was a crucial event in the 1745 Rising, a Jacobite uprising against the British government in Scotland. Taking place from January 8th to February 1st, 1746, the siege saw a Jacobite force attempt to take control of the heavily fortified Stirling Castle, which was held by a government garrison under William Blakeney. Despite some early successes, the siege ultimately proved unsuccessful, and the Jacobites were forced to withdraw as the government army under Cumberland advanced north from Edinburgh.

One of the strongest fortifications in Scotland, Stirling Castle played a critical role in controlling access between the Highlands and the Lowlands. In September 1745, the Jacobite army passed nearby on its way to Edinburgh, but did not have the resources or time to take the castle. When the Jacobites reached their military peak in early January 1746, they set their sights on capturing Stirling, hoping it would provide a secure base and port for a second invasion of England.

The Jacobites, however, lacked the necessary siege equipment, and their field artillery was unable to make much impact on the castle’s strong walls. An attempt by a government relief force under Henry Hawley to break the siege was defeated at Falkirk on January 17th, but the victory did little to change the overall strategic situation. When the heavier guns arrived on January 14th, the Jacobites attempted to emplace them near the town cemetery or on Gowan Hill, but the shallow bedrock and near-vertical cliffs made it difficult to get them into position and transport them.

Despite these challenges, the Jacobites continued to press their attack, and the troops engaged in construction suffered daily casualties from the castle’s mortar fire. However, the tide began to turn as Cumberland’s army began advancing north from Edinburgh, and the Jacobites were forced to abandon the siege and withdraw to Inverness on February 1st.

In the end, the Siege of Stirling Castle was a significant event in the 1745 Rising, demonstrating both the strength of the government forces and the limitations of the Jacobite army. Despite some early successes, the siege ultimately proved unsuccessful, and the Jacobites were unable to achieve their goal of capturing the castle and establishing a secure base for a second invasion of England. Today, the events of the Siege of Stirling Castle are remembered as a critical moment in Scottish history, and the castle remains one of the most important historical sites in Scotland.