James Ray (historian)
Encyclopedia
James Ray was an English historian, most notable for his chronicle of the Jacobite rebellion of 1745, A Complete History of the Rebellion in 1745 (1746). Ray was born in Whitehaven
, Cumberland
. He marched to join the royal garrison at Carlisle
in the autumn of 1745 at the time when Charles Edward Stuart
's army was marching from Edinburgh
. However Carlisle surrendered to the Jacobites before Ray reached the city, and Ray followed the Jacobite army to Derby
. The information he gleaned from this expedition he reported to the Duke of Cumberland, whose forces he met at Stafford
on 5 January 1746 and whom he stayed with until the Jacobite forces were finally defeated at Culloden
in April. Ray published The acts of the rebels, written by an Egyptian in 1746 and his history of the Jacobite rebellion.
Whitehaven
Whitehaven is a small town and port on the coast of Cumbria, England, which lies equidistant between the county's two largest settlements, Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness, and is served by the Cumbrian Coast Line and the A595 road...
, Cumberland
Cumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England, on the border with Scotland, from the 12th century until 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
. He marched to join the royal garrison at Carlisle
Carlisle Castle
Carlisle Castle is situated in Carlisle, in the English county of Cumbria, near the ruins of Hadrian's Wall. The castle is over 900 years old and has been the scene of many historical episodes in British history. Given the proximity of Carlisle to the border between England and Scotland, it...
in the autumn of 1745 at the time when Charles Edward Stuart
Charles Edward Stuart
Prince Charles Edward Louis John Casimir Sylvester Severino Maria Stuart commonly known as Bonnie Prince Charlie or The Young Pretender was the second Jacobite pretender to the thrones of Great Britain , and Ireland...
's army was marching from Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. However Carlisle surrendered to the Jacobites before Ray reached the city, and Ray followed the Jacobite army to Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
. The information he gleaned from this expedition he reported to the Duke of Cumberland, whose forces he met at Stafford
Stafford
Stafford is the county town of Staffordshire, in the West Midlands region of England. It lies approximately north of Wolverhampton and south of Stoke-on-Trent, adjacent to the M6 motorway Junction 13 to Junction 14...
on 5 January 1746 and whom he stayed with until the Jacobite forces were finally defeated at Culloden
Battle of Culloden
The Battle of Culloden was the final confrontation of the 1745 Jacobite Rising. Taking place on 16 April 1746, the battle pitted the Jacobite forces of Charles Edward Stuart against an army commanded by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, loyal to the British government...
in April. Ray published The acts of the rebels, written by an Egyptian in 1746 and his history of the Jacobite rebellion.