James Graham, the son of
the 4th Earl of Montrose, was born in 1612. After being educated at
St. Salvator's College, St. Andrews, he
travelled to France, Italy and the Netherlands.
Montrose returned to Scotland
in 1637 and soon afterwards was one of the four noblemen who drew
up the National Covenant in support of Presbyterianism.
However, in 1639, he expressed doubts about the Covenant and after
he confessed he had been communicating with Charles
I his main political
opponent, Earl of Argyll,
arranged for him to be confined in Edinburgh
Castle.
After his release he decided
to support the king during the Civil War.
In August, 1644, he defeated the Covenanters under Lord Elcho at Tippermuir.
He then captured Aberdeen
(September, 1644) and plundered
the countryside. At Inverlochy (February, 1645) his army killed 1,500
Campbells in battle. He achieved further victories at Auldearn (May,
1645) and Alford (June, 1645).
Montrose was defeated by
David Leslie at Philiphaugh (September,
1645). He managed to raise another army in the Highlands but after
the surrender of Charles
I he fled to
Europe.
Montrose was offered a
senior post in the French army but committed to the royalist cause
he returned to Scotland with a small army in April 1650. Three weeks
later he was defeated at Carbisdale.
James Graham, 5th Earl
of Montrose, was hung, drawn and quartered at Mercat Cross in Edinburgh
in May, 1650. His limbs were exhibited in Glasgow,
Aberdeen,
Stirling and Perth.
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