This year marks the 300th anniversary of the birth of Flora MacDonald, the Jacobite heroine who rescued Bonnie Prince Charlie and aided his escape to the Isle of Skye. This is the first of two talks focusing on Flora and her role in the 1745 Jacobite Rising.
We are pleased to welcome award-winning biographer, Flora Fraser. She has been a professional writer and historical biographer since graduating Oxford University. She grew up between London and Beauly, Invernessshire, and was named after Flora Macdonald. She researched her new book, Pretty Young Rebel in the Macdonald of Sleat and other family papers, in the National Library of Scotland archives, in the Royal Archives, Windsor, and in a range of North American archives. Her previous book The Washingtons: George & Martha: ‘Join’d by Friendship, Crown’d by Love also won the 2016 George Washington Book Prize.
This talk will focus of Flora Macdonald and provide a peek into Fraser’s newest book ‘Pretty Young Rebel’, which will be for sale and signing on the night.
The year is 1746. The Jacobite rebellion has failed catastrophically and Scotland is reeling in the devastating aftermath of the battle of Culloden. Far to the west, on an island in the Outer Hebrides, 24-year-old Flora Macdonald is woken in the dead of night by a messenger with urgent intelligence.
Bonnie Prince Charlie is outside, begging for her help.
With Flora’s assistance, the Stuart prince is disguised as an Irish maid and smuggled to the Isle of Skye, evading government troops. Flora’s bravery and determination soon see her immortalised in ballads and proclaimed a Scottish heroine, but also resulted in her capture and detention in London. Released the following year and returning to Skye, Flora goes on to marry and emigrate to North Carolina, only then to be caught up in the American Revolutionary War.
This is an in-person event on in Fort William.
Date: Friday 16th September, 6pm
Venue: West Highland Museum
Ticket price: £5 Purchase on Art Tickets
Call or email the museum for more information
Email: info@westhighlandmuseum.org.uk
Phone: 01397 702169
