Seven Men of Moidart
The Seven Men of Moidart, in Jacobite folklore, were seven followers of Charles Edward Stuart who accompanied him at the start of his 1745 attempt to reclaim the thrones of Great Britain and Ireland for the House of Stuart. The group included English, Scots and Irish subjects of varying backgrounds linked mostly by their involvement in pro-Stuart intrigues. Although some had military experience, most of the men were relatively elderly by the standards of the time; some were already infirm and little suited to the rigours of campaigning. The seven accompanied Charles on the French privateer Du Teillay, initially landing on Eriskay; the group later reached the mainland at Borrodale in Loch Nan Uamh, Lochailort, then returned to Borrodale before travelling to Kinlochmoidart. In the early 19th century a row of beech trees was planted at Kinlochmoidart in commemoration of the events. List of the Men of Moidart The Marquess of Tullibardine William Murray, Marquess of Tullibardine (1689–1746), eldest surviving son of the 1st Duke of Atholl and brother of Jacobite Lieutenant-General Lord George Murray, had been heavily involved in the risings of 1715 (following which he was attainted for treason) and 1719. He spent the following years in exile in France, suffering from poor health and relative poverty, despite secret financial support from his family in Scotland. During the 1745 rising, as the senior representative of the house of Atholl, he was chosen to unfurl Charles's standard at Glenfinnan on 16 August though his military activity was limited by gout. He was captured following the defeat at Culloden and imprisoned in the Tower of London: in very poor health at the time of his arrival, he died shortly afterwards. John William O'Sullivan Sir John William O'Sullivan (1700–c.1760) was an Irish professional soldier who, like many Irish Jacobites, had served in the French army. Service in Corsica had given him experience of irregular warfare, and he was highly regarded and trusted by Charles. O'Sullivan was appointed the Jacobite army's Adjutant-General and Quartermaster-General and was an influential figure in the Jacobite "Council of War". After the rebellion's failure, Scottish Jacobites were quick to blame O'Sullivan for "tactical ineptitude", a view repeated by 19th century historians and into modern times. More recent scholarship has challenged this view, concluding that this reputation was probably undeserved and that O'Sullivan was effective in the roles given to him. He later returned to service in the French army and wrote a detailed narrative account of the rebellion. Sir Thomas Sheridan Sir Thomas Sheridan (c.1684–1746) was an Anglo-Irish Jacobite courtier who had previously been involved in the 1715 rising. Sheridan was the son of a former Chief Secretary for Ireland; his mother, Helen Appleby, was rumoured to be an illegitimate daughter of James II. Having been appointed Charles Stuart's governor, he had a close and trusting relationship with him and was a member of the Jacobite Council during the rebellion. Following the Jacobite defeat at Culloden in April 1746, Sheridan escaped Scotland on the French privateer Mars: