George Munro, 1st of Culcairn

Sir George Munro of Culcairn (1685 - 1746) was a Scottish soldier of the 18th century from Ross-shire, Scotland. He commanded the 3rd Independent Highland Company from 1714 to 1716, fought at the Battle of Glenshiel in 1719, led the 6th Company in formation of the "Black Watch" in 1725, the 8th Company of Black Watch when it was regimented in 1739 and again commanded an Independent Highland Company in 1745-46.^[1] He was shot in error in 1746.^[1]

Lineage

George Munro of Culcairn was born on 18 September 1685,^[2] the second son of Sir Robert Munro, 5th Baronet of Foulis, chief of the Clan Munro, who was also known as the Blind Baron. George's elder brother was Sir Robert Munro, 6th Baronet of Foulis, the next successive chief of the clan.^[3]

1715 to 1719 Jacobite rising

During the 1715 to 1719 Jacobite Risings the Munros always supported the British Government. During the Jacobite rising of 1715 the Mackenzie Jacobite garrison at Inverness surrendered to Simon Fraser of Lovat upon the very day when the Battle of Sheriffmuir was fought and another Jacobite force was defeated at the Battle of Preston (1715). Soon after this 31-year-old Colonel Sir Robert Munro of Foulis marched into the town of Inverness with 400 Munros and took over control as governor from Fraser. Government troops arrived in Inverness towards the end of February, and for some months the process of disarming the rebels went on led by a Munro detachment under George Munro of Culcairn.^[4]

In 1719 Captain George Munro of Culcairn led a detachment of Munros at the Battle of Glenshiel where they helped to defeat the Jacobites. During the battle George who was wounded was shielded by his servant, however he told his men to carry on and not to shield him. The Jacobites continued to fire at George after he was down, until Sergeant Robert Munro, son of Hugh Munro of Tullochue, with a small party, dislodged Captain George Munro's assailants, after having previously swore upon his dirk that he would effect his rescue. The Jacobites were soon put into retreat and after the battle the Jacobite rising was over.^[4] Historian Peter Simpson states that the Munro company ably led by George Munro of Culcairn took a very positive part in the fighting and that their bold action helped in the defeat of the Jacobites under the Earl Marischall.^[5] Simpson also states that the battle raged for three hours but the superior power of the government grenadiers along with the aggressive forays of the Munros won the day for the government.^[6]

The Black Watch and War in France

In 1725 six Independent Highland Companies were formed. One of Munros, one of Frasers, one of Grants and three of Campbells. George Munro of Culcairn was made a Captain in Munro's company under his elder brother Colonel Sir Robert.^[7] In 1739 ten Independent Highland Companies were embodied into a regiment of the line.^[8] The regiment then was officially known as the 43rd Highlanders (later renumbered the 42nd ). The regiment's first action together came at the Battle of Fontenoy in 1745 against the French. For the first time in a European battle they introduced a system of infantry tactics (alternatively firing and taking cover) that was not superseded. Springing up and closing with the enemy, they several times drove them back, and finished with a successful rear-guard action against French cavalry.

1745 to 1746 Jacobite rising

Later during the 1745 to 1746 Jacobite rising the Munros continued their support for the British Government. George Munro was appointed the command of the Munro Independent Highland Company.^[9] While his elder brother, Robert Munro, now the chief of the clan was appointed command of the English 37th Regiment of Foot and Robert's son, Sir Harry Munro, 7th Baronet held command in Loudon's Highlanders regiment.

General Sir John Cope arrived at Inverness on 29 August 1745.^[10] George Munro of Culcairn met him and agreed that the Munros "should instantly take arms and join the King's troops".^[10]

Harry Munro joined Sir John Cope at the Water of Nairn and when the army marched for Aberdeen on 4 September Loudon's Highlanders regiment included his three companies, while George Munro of Culcairn's detachment acted as scouts.^[10] Sir John Cope remained in Aberdeen where a fourth company of Loudoun's regiment joined the others until 14 September from whence they sailed to Dunbar and their infamous defeat at the Battle of Prestonpans.^[10] Harry was among 70 officers taken prisoner and for a time was imprisoned in Glamis Castle but by mid January 1746 he was among 31 men released who arrived at Edinburgh, where he learnt the tragic news of his father Robert's and his uncle Duncan's deaths after the Battle of Falkirk Muir.^[10]

Meanwhile, the main body of Munros having escorted Sir John Cope successfully to Aberdeen had returned to the north under George Munro of Culcairn and were not present at Prestonpans.^[10] However George Munro and his Independent Company seem to have been involved in the events which led up to the Battle of Inverurie (1745) if not involved in the battle itself. One account does state that the Munros under George Munro of Culcairn were positioned in such a way that they were able to attack the advancing Jacobites from the front and flank leaving many dead on the field.^[11] Another account states that the Munros held position at the village of Oldmeldrum and were not involved in the battle at all.^[12]

John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun and Sir John Cope had escaped by sea to London after the Battle of Prestonpans from whence Loudoun later returned north to Inverness to take command in the north but was forced with the Lord President Duncan Forbes, Lord Culloden and George Munro of Culcairn to withdraw through the Black Isle into Ross-shire being pressed by a much larger Jacobite force.^[10]

After the Battle of Falkirk (1746), Mackenzie Jacobites had burned Foulis Castle leaving it a semi ruin.^[10] In April of that year the Jacobite army was finally defeated at the Battle of Culloden by Government forces but although Loudon's regiment were present Harry Munro was listed as missing on leave and George Munro of Culcairn had already returned north.^[10]

Assassination

After the Jacobite rising had been suppressed a Munro Independent Company under Harry Munro of Foulis and the command of his uncle, George Munro of Culcairn continued to police the Highlands. George Munro and his Independent Company burned Achnacarry Castle of the Clan Cameron to the ground, watched by Donald Cameron, chief of the Clan Cameron. The Camerons had been the most staunch of Jacobites and were also responsible for the murder of George's elder brother Sir Robert Munro, 6th Baronet after the Battle of Falkirk.

Around the same time that Achnacarry Castle was burned a Government officer from the Clan Grant, seized a young man by the name of Cameron, who had been sent by his father, Dugald Roy Cameron, to Fort William to surrender their arms.^[13] Grant shot the young Cameron on the spot.^[13] The young Cameron's father swore to be revenged on what had happened to his son and had heard that Grant rode a white horse and waited for him behind a rock on his return from Loch Arkaig.^[13] Captain George Munro of Culcairn had borrowed Grant's horse and as a result was shot and killed in mistake for him by Cameron.^[13]

Some information on George Munro of Culcairn's murder is given by historian Ruairi MacLeod.^[14] MacLeod states that on 19 August, Lord Loudon (John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun) ordered Munro to sweep through Knoydart and into Lochaber.^[14] On 31 August, Munro's four companies met up with Captain Grant's detachment at Locharkaigside where Munro was killed.^[14] The Reverend John Cameron maintained that Munro was shot in mistake for Captain Grant of Knockando, in revenge by the father of a man killed on the orders of Grant.^[14]

Family

George's son, John Munro, 2nd of Culcairn is also well remembered for the unusual hospitality he showed to a Jacobite Bishop in the 1760s.^[15] It is recorded how John Munro of Culcairn treated him to the best of Strong Ale, Claret of Vintage 49 and good Coffee made of his own Wheat.^[15] The Bishop also described Culcairn's improvements: his grounds produce the best of Wheat and he has erected a Flour-Miln for dressing it.^[15]

Independent Company

Amongst the men in George Munro of Culcairn's independent company who supported the British Government during the 1745 - 1746 Jacobite rising were:^[16]

References

Bibliography

• Fraser, C.I of Reeling. The Clan Munro. Published by Johnston & Bacon of Stirling in 1954, 1969, 1972 and 1987. ISBN 0-7179-4535-9.
• Mackenzie, Alexander. (1898). The History of the Munroes of Fowlis.
• Munro, R.W. (1977). Clan Munro Magazine No. 14'.
• Simpson, Peter. (1996). The Independent Highland Companies, 1603 - 1760. ISBN 0-85976-432-X.