Alexander Macdonald, 17th of Keppoch

Alexander Macdonald, 17th of Keppoch (died 1746) was a Scottish clan chief, military officer, and prominent Jacobite who took part in both the 1715 and 1745 Jacobite risings. He was killed at the Battle of Culloden leading a regiment composed largely of members of his clan, the Macdonalds of Keppoch.

Some genealogies give him the title 16th of Keppoch, following a previous dispute of succession.

Life

Keppoch was the son of 16th chief Coll Macdonald (known as Colla nam Bo, "Coll of the Cows") and Barbara, daughter of Sir Donald Macdonald of Sleat.[1] His paternal aunt was the poet Sìleas na Ceapaich (also called Sìleas Nighean Mhic Raghnaill or Cicely Macdonald). He was likely born in the mid 1690s, as there is a record of his matriculation at the University of Glasgow in 1713.[2] In 1715 he joined his father in the rising in support of the Old Pretender. Following the rising's collapse, Alexander fled to France, where like many Scottish exiles he gained experience in the royal army, reaching the rank of captain.[3]

Alexander's father likely died in 1729, as in that year he was confirmed in the lease of Keppoch.[1] As chief, Keppoch continued the traditional arrangement of tenure based on military service, commenting in 1740 that the rent of his estates was "five hundred men".[4] He continued to have contact with the exiled Stuart court, and was created a baronet in the Jacobite peerage in June 1743.

Keppoch was married to Isabel, daughter of Robert Stewart of Appin, and had several legitimate and illegitimate children. A posthumous portrait, dated 1765 and possibly taken from an earlier miniature, exists.[5]

The 1745 Rising

Despite being, by the standards of the time, an old man, Keppoch (a Catholic) was one of the first clan chiefs to join Charles Edward Stuart in 1745. Keppoch's French military experience saw him, according to some accounts, employed as a principal advisor to Charles on behalf of the other clan chiefs involved.[6] Keppoch's own regiment was a relatively small unit of some 200 men, including some Macgregor and Mackinnon clansmen; serving throughout the Rising, it had a reputation for poor discipline and for plundering.[7] Although the regiment had a strength of 300 when Charles's standard was raised at Glenfinnan, many of the men deserted a few days later,[8] apparently because of a "private quarrel" between them and Keppoch rather than any unwillingness to fight.[9] As the Macdonald lairds of Keppoch had for many years held their land effectively by force of arms rather than legal title, Keppoch's leverage over his tenants may have been less than other clan chiefs, and Charles Stuart's biographer McLynn has suggested that Keppoch's resulting reliance on "sheer force of personality" may have contributed to the higher desertion rate and indiscipline.[10]

Keppoch's men, led by his cousin, Maj. Donald Macdonald of Tirnadris, were involved in the first skirmish of the Rising when they ambushed Captain John Scott's soldiers at Highbridge near Fort William on August 16. Keppoch and Clanranald later went to Dundee, where they succeeded in collecting some public money and were credited with capturing two ships carrying arms.[8] Keppoch and his regiment subsequently took part in the advance south to England, were involved in the night action at Clifton on 18 December,[8] and later, brought up to a strength of around 500, played a significant role in the Battle of Falkirk Muir.[11] Prisoners taken after the rising alleged that Keppoch had resorted to force to fill out his regiment, kidnapping a number of men from Lochbroom parish in March 1746,[12] while a report from John Macdonald of Bunrannoch dated August 1745 suggested that Keppoch had written to local tacksmen suggesting they would be "proceeded against with burning and houghing" if they did not join him.[13]

On 20 March 1746 Keppoch and Lochiel jointly issued a letter in which they condemned actions carried out by the pro-Government Clan Campbell militias against civilians, stating that they "look[ed] on such cruelty with horror and detestation" and threatened to "hang a Campbell for every house that shall hereafter be burned by them".

At Culloden, where Keppoch led his regiment alongside his brother, nephew and an illegitimate son, he argued with Lord George Murray against Sir John O'Sullivan's choice of field, but was overruled.[14] Keppoch's regiment took part in the unsuccessful night attack on the Royal encampment, and, exhausted, was thrown immediately into battle on the following morning.[15] Keppoch's men, on the Jacobite left wing, had to advance into musket fire, chain and canister: seeing them reluctant to charge, he is in some accounts said to have reproached them by shouting Mo Dhia, an do threig clainn mo chinnidh mi? ("My God, have the children of my clan forsaken me?") before charging personally with pistol and sword drawn.[15] Other accounts, however, confirm that Keppoch advanced surrounded by a small group of close kinsmen, and that the rest of his men followed in support.[16] Keppoch almost immediately had his right arm shattered by a musket-ball: continuing to advance, he was subsequently hit in the chest and died some time later while being carried off the field by his illegitimate son Angus Ban.[15] His brother Donald and nephew John Mackenzie were also killed at Culloden; another brother, Archibald, had been killed in the front line at Prestonpans. He was succeeded as chief by his son Ranald.

Subsequent assessments of Keppoch's character and motives have been strongly coloured by prevailing attitudes to Jacobitism: a pro-government 1746 pamphlet describing the trial of his nephew, Donald Macdonald, described "old Keppoch" as a "Man of an austere aspect, tall, lusty and strong, much inur'd to War, and can endure any Hardships [...] when he was in the Pretender's Army, he slept in the open Fields in his Plaid. In a Word, he is a man dreaded, but not beloved".[17] By contrast, a 19th-century Macdonald family memoir describes him as an "amiable and gallant man [...] who endeared himself to all ranks".[18]

In film

Keppoch (played by George McBean) and a number of men of his regiment are prominently featured in the 1964 Peter Watkins docudrama Culloden.

References

  1. 1 2 Macdonald, J. Clan Donald, Pelican, 1978, p.387
  2. ↑ Mackenie, A. History of the Macdonalds and Lords of the Isles, 1881, p.502
  3. ↑ Macdonald, A. A family memoir of the Macdonalds of Keppoch, Whiting, 1885, p.44
  4. ↑ Macintosh, D. The History of Scotland, 1821, p.325
  5. ↑ Telfer-Dunbar, History of Highland Dress, Oliver & Boyd, 1962, pp.68-9
  6. ↑ Macdonald, 1885, p.41
  7. ↑ Reid, S. The Scottish Jacobite Army 1745-46, Osprey, 2012 , p.22
  8. 1 2 3 Seton, The Prisoners of the 45, v. 1, 1928, p.316
  9. ↑ Seton, p.283
  10. ↑ McLynn, Bonnie Prince Charlie, 2011, p.131
  11. ↑ Memoirs of the Jacobites of 1715 and 1745, Bentley, 1846, p.162
  12. ↑ Prebble, Culloden, Random House, 2002, p.53
  13. ↑ Seton, The Prisoners of the 45, v. 1, 1928, p.271
  14. ↑ Prebble, p.74
  15. 1 2 3 Macdonald, 1978, p.391
  16. ↑ See Lang, The Death of Keppoch, in his History of Scotland. v.12
  17. ↑ A genuine account of the behaviour, confession, and dying words of the Scots rebels, viz Donald MacDonald, J. Nicholson and W. Ogilvie, who were executed the 22d day of August 1746, for high treason, at Kennington Common, 1746, p.14
  18. ↑ Macdonald, 1885, p.40
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