William Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Seaforth
Encyclopedia
William Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Seaforth (died 1740) was a Scottish nobleman.
He who joined the Jacobite
standard at Braemar
, during the rising of 1715, and then, having raised 3000 men, was present at the battle of Sheriffmuir
and was appointed lieutenant-general of the northern counties. He escaped to France in 1716.
He accompanied George Keith, 10th Earl Marischal
in his expedition to the Highlands, being wounded at Glenshiel. He again escaped to France, returning to Scotland only in 1726 after he was pardoned.
In 1716 he was attainted
and his titles and estates forfeited. Before his death in January 1740, he had been relieved of some of the penalties of his treason
, although his titles were not restored. His son Kenneth Mackenzie, Lord Fortrose
(c. 1718–1761), who but for the attainder would have been the 6th earl, helped the British government during the rising of 1745, and was a member of parliament
for some years.
His son Kenneth Mackenzie
was created Earl of Seaforth in 1771, but his peerage became extinct when he died in August 1781. Although there were still heirs to the older earldom, this remained under attainder. Kenneth raised the regiment of Highlanders, the 78th
, known later as the 2nd battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders
.
He who joined the Jacobite
Jacobitism
Jacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
standard at Braemar
Braemar
Braemar is a village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, around west of Aberdeen in the Highlands. It is the closest significantly-sized settlement to the upper course of the River Dee sitting at an altitude of ....
, during the rising of 1715, and then, having raised 3000 men, was present at the battle of Sheriffmuir
Battle of Sheriffmuir
The Battle of Sheriffmuir was an engagement in 1715 at the height of the Jacobite rebellion in England and Scotland.-History:John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar, standard-bearer for the Jacobite cause in Scotland, mustered Highland chiefs, and on 6 September declared James Francis Edward Stuart as King...
and was appointed lieutenant-general of the northern counties. He escaped to France in 1716.
He accompanied George Keith, 10th Earl Marischal
George Keith, 10th Earl Marischal
George Keith, 10th Earl Marischal was a Scottish and Prussian army officer and diplomat...
in his expedition to the Highlands, being wounded at Glenshiel. He again escaped to France, returning to Scotland only in 1726 after he was pardoned.
In 1716 he was attainted
Attainder
In English criminal law, attainder or attinctura is the metaphorical 'stain' or 'corruption of blood' which arises from being condemned for a serious capital crime . It entails losing not only one's property and hereditary titles, but typically also the right to pass them on to one's heirs...
and his titles and estates forfeited. Before his death in January 1740, he had been relieved of some of the penalties of his 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...
, although his titles were not restored. His son Kenneth Mackenzie, Lord Fortrose
Kenneth Mackenzie, Lord Fortrose
Kenneth Mackenzie, Lord Fortrose was a British politician and Chief of the Highland Clan Mackenzie.-Origins:...
(c. 1718–1761), who but for the attainder would have been the 6th earl, helped the British government during the rising of 1745, and was a member of parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for some years.
His son Kenneth Mackenzie
Kenneth Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Seaforth
Kenneth Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Seaforth FRS was a British peer and politician and Chief of the Highland Clan Mackenzie.-Origins:...
was created Earl of Seaforth in 1771, but his peerage became extinct when he died in August 1781. Although there were still heirs to the older earldom, this remained under attainder. Kenneth raised the regiment of Highlanders, the 78th
78th Regiment of Foot
The 78th Regiment of Foot was a Highland Infantry Regiment of the Line raised in late 18th Century Scotland for service against the French during the Napoleonic Wars.- History :The original 78th Foot was raised by the Earl of Seaforth in 1778...
, known later as the 2nd battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders
Seaforth Highlanders
The Seaforth Highlanders was a historic regiment of the British Army associated with large areas of the northern Highlands of Scotland. The Seaforth Highlanders have varied in size from two battalions to seventeen battalions during the Great War...
.