Flora Macdonald

From the Internet, http://www.globalguide.org/scotland/south-uist/bonnie.html

The 1745-6 Jacobite rebellion and the subsequent disaster of Culloden are a tragic period in Scottish history. It was in the Uists that the campaign both started and finished. Charles Edward Stuart first set foot in Scotland on the Isle of Eriskay and it was from South Uist that he left with Flora MacDonald to go "over the sea to Skye".

The Bonnie Prince had been hiding in the Outer Hebrides for nigh on eight weeks - continually escaping the authorities with audacious manoeuvres. But by June 1746, the net was closing in.

Introduced by a kinswoman of Flora's, the two were unlikely companions. Flora MacDonald was engaged to and deeply in love with Allan MacDonald, a government redcoat; her father was Clanranald, in charge of King George III's army in Benbecula, her home island. As such she owed no loyalty to the Jacobite cause and indeed had none. However on Benbecula, General Campbell was closing in and the islanders were set on helping the fugitive prince - more to protect the island from the wrath of government revenge should he be found there than from sympathy to the Jacobites.

At first, because of her family loyalties she refused to shelter and aide the prince but when Clanranald also intervened on the Prince's behalf, depite his own obligations, the escapade was set fair. Flora was the strongest, most self-willed and ingenious woman on the island and because of these qualities she was chosen to lead the Bonnie Prince to safety to the Scottish mainland.

After a week in hiding together with the Prince, Flora and her mother had found the clothing to effect the change from French-raised Bonnie Prince Charlie to coarse Irish Betty Burke, maidservant. Thus dressed, the unlikely pair sailed over the Minch to Skye.

On arrival in Trotternish, Skye, the Government redcoats stopped Flora and Betty Burke and remarked how odd a maid Betty was with her petticoats, rough complexion and heavy boots. However, the disguise had worked - Flora released Charles into the care of Skye Jacobites who spirited him further away to the mainland and then back to the continent.

Charles remained in exile for the rest of his life - bitter at missed opportunities. Flora emigrated to North America and died quite a famous old woman, visited by many but never telling any of her secrets.

The Skye Boat Song was written about the episode - present day tourists crossing the one-mile long new bridge from the mainland to Skye cannot imagine what the fuss of the sea crossing was all about. But the song relates to the fifty mile Minch crossing in a rowing boat - the Kyles of Lochalsh are the wrong sea!


(Flora Macdonald was the great grand-daughter of Neil Ban (Tertius) Maclean, 10th Maclean of Boreray)