December 22 in Scottish History

Today in 1715 James Francis Stewart, 'The Old Pretender,' landed in Scotland from France. Many Scots considered him the rightful heir to the throne. Louis XIV of France promised to recognise him as James VIII of Britain, but in 1713, Louis made peace with Britain and James was forced to leave France and settle in Rome. Stewart joined the Earl of Mar's Jacobite uprising of 1715, but was unsuccessful and was forced to flee abroad after only a few weeks. His son Charles, 'Bonnie Prince Charlie', led the 1745 rebellion.

On this day in 1820 the convicted leaders of the Radical revolt set sail to Australia on the convict ship Speke. Only one, Andrew White, returned to Scotland when pardoned. The leaders of the revolt had been protesting against poor conditions for weavers, and were sold out by government agents, which resulted in the capture of the rising's leaders in a skirmish at Bonnymuir. Those who refused to plead guilty to treason were executed, and the remainder were sentenced to transportation.

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