The Jacobites of North East Scotland, particularly the Countesses of Erroll, played a significant role in Scottish history, contributing to both military intelligence and intellectual pursuits. In Mike Shepherd’s book, „Unquenched Rage: The Jacobites Of North East Scotland, 1688-1708,“ he sheds light on the often overlooked story of Lady Catherine Carnegie and Lady Anne Drummond, who ran a sophisticated intelligence network for the Jacobites in Scotland.
Lady Catherine Carnegie was the first to manage the intelligence network, facilitating communication between Scotland and the exiled Jacobite Court in France. Her successor, Lady Anne Drummond, continued this work and even played a crucial role in the 1708 Franco-Jacobite attempted invasion of Scotland. Using her base at Slains Castle as an Intelligence HQ, Lady Anne coordinated efforts between the Scottish Jacobites and the French military during the planning phase of the invasion.
Despite the failed invasion, Lady Anne’s activities were instrumental in the Jacobite cause. Her involvement in military intelligence extended beyond Scotland, as she used coded messages to communicate with the exiled Jacobite court in France. Her contributions to the Jacobite movement were so significant that she was considered a point of contact for the rest of the country, along with her brothers who were exiled on the continent.
In addition to her military intelligence work, Lady Anne Drummond also made contributions to the Enlightenment movement in Europe. She was asked to contribute to Pierre Bayle’s Historical And Critical Dictionary, a foundational text for intellectual thought in the 17th and 18th centuries. Anne’s articles on Scotland in the dictionary showcased her intellectual prowess and further solidified her place in history.
The North East of Scotland, where Lady Anne Drummond operated, was a hub of intellectual activity at the time. With two renowned universities in Aberdeen and a constant exchange of trade and ideas with France and the Low Countries, the region was primed for intellectual growth. Lady Anne’s contributions to Bayle’s book and her writings on the geography of North East Scotland exemplify her role in this intellectual flourishing.
While Lady Anne Drummond’s story is well-documented in Shepherd’s book, the book also touches on the lesser-known role of Lady Catherine Carnegie. Catherine played a pivotal role in the first Jacobite rising and was involved in military intelligence during the siege of Edinburgh castle in 1688. Her efforts to deceive the enemy before the Battle of Killiecrankie showcase her strategic thinking and dedication to the Jacobite cause.
Overall, „Unquenched Rage: The Jacobites Of North East Scotland, 1688-1708“ offers a fresh perspective on the Jacobite history of the North East of Scotland. Through the stories of Lady Catherine Carnegie and Lady Anne Drummond, readers gain insight into the complex web of military intelligence and intellectual pursuits that shaped this tumultuous period in Scottish history.