Mackintosh of Borlum
Encyclopedia
Brigadier William Mackintosh, Laird of Borlum (1658–1743) usually known as Mackintosh of Borlum was a leader of the Jacobite
rebellion of 1715 and a member of the Clan Mackintosh
.
The leader of the rising, John Erskine, 23rd Earl of Mar, detached a small force of 2000 Highlanders led by Borlum from the main army. He moved into Fife
and crossed the Firth of Forth
in fishing boats. He briefly held Leith
and came close to capturing Edinburgh
. He linked up with some English and Lowland Jacobites in the Scottish Borders, then marched south as far as Preston where they were captured (see Battle of Preston (1715)
). He was charged with treason
, but escaped from Newgate Prison
with seven others the night before his trial was due to start.
One historian, John Prebble
, considers that he should really have led the rising instead of Mar.
He also fought for the Jacobites at the Battle of Glen Shiel
in 1719.
He married Mary Reade, and they had two sons.
There is a bagpipe tune called "Mackintosh of Borlum's Salute".
Jacobite rising
The Jacobite Risings were a series of uprisings, rebellions, and wars in Great Britain and Ireland occurring between 1688 and 1746. The uprisings were aimed at returning James VII of Scotland and II of England, and later his descendants of the House of Stuart, to the throne after he was deposed by...
rebellion of 1715 and a member of the Clan Mackintosh
Clan MacKintosh
Clan Mackintosh is a Scottish clan from Inverness with strong Jacobite ties. The Mackintoshes were also chiefs of the Chattan Confederation.-Origins:...
.
The leader of the rising, John Erskine, 23rd Earl of Mar, detached a small force of 2000 Highlanders led by Borlum from the main army. He moved into Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
and crossed the Firth of Forth
Firth of Forth
The Firth of Forth is the estuary or firth of Scotland's River Forth, where it flows into the North Sea, between Fife to the north, and West Lothian, the City of Edinburgh and East Lothian to the south...
in fishing boats. He briefly held Leith
Leith
-South Leith v. North Leith:Up until the late 16th century Leith , comprised two separate towns on either side of the river....
and came close to capturing 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...
. He linked up with some English and Lowland Jacobites in the Scottish Borders, then marched south as far as Preston where they were captured (see Battle of Preston (1715)
Battle of Preston (1715)
The Battle of Preston , also referred to as the Preston Fight, was fought during the Jacobite Rising of 1715 ....
). He was charged with treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
, but escaped from Newgate Prison
Newgate Prison
Newgate Prison was a prison in London, at the corner of Newgate Street and Old Bailey just inside the City of London. It was originally located at the site of a gate in the Roman London Wall. The gate/prison was rebuilt in the 12th century, and demolished in 1777...
with seven others the night before his trial was due to start.
One historian, John Prebble
John Prebble
John Edward Curtis Prebble, FRSL, OBE was an English/Canadian journalist, novelist, documentarian and historian. He is best known for his studies of Scottish history.-Early life:...
, considers that he should really have led the rising instead of Mar.
He also fought for the Jacobites at the Battle of Glen Shiel
Battle of Glen Shiel
The Battle of Glen Shiel was a battle in Glen Shiel, in the West Highlands of Scotland on 10 June 1719, between British government troops and an alliance of Jacobites and Spaniards, resulting in a victory for the government forces. It was the last close engagement of British and foreign troops on...
in 1719.
He married Mary Reade, and they had two sons.
There is a bagpipe tune called "Mackintosh of Borlum's Salute".