On 23 July 1745, Charles Edward Stuart—Bonnie Prince Charlie—landed on the Hebridean island of Eriskay with only a small group of companions. He had come to restore the exiled Stuart dynasty, but he arrived without the large French army or supply of weapons many Highland leaders considered essential. Local chiefs urged him to return to France. He refused, and the campaign known as the Forty-Five began.
The Eriskay landing: key facts
- Date: 23 July 1745
- Place: Eriskay in the Outer Hebrides
- Leader: Prince Charles Edward Stuart
- Purpose: To raise a Jacobite army and restore the Stuarts
- Initial support: Uncertain; several chiefs warned that the expedition lacked French troops and arms
- Next stage: Charles moved to the mainland and summoned supporters before raising his standard at Glenfinnan
Why did Bonnie Prince Charlie come to Scotland?
The Stuart king James VII of Scotland and II of England had been deposed in 1688. Jacobites continued to support the claims of James and his descendants. Charles was James’s grandson and the son of James Francis Edward Stuart, known to supporters as James VIII and III.
European war created an opportunity. France had considered supporting an invasion, but the larger plan failed. Charles nevertheless secured ships, borrowed money and sailed from France. One vessel carrying arms and troops was forced back after an encounter at sea, leaving the prince to continue with far fewer resources than intended.
What happened when Charles landed on Eriskay?
Charles stepped ashore in a remote Gaelic-speaking island community. The landing has since become a romantic moment in Jacobite memory, but the first reaction was caution rather than celebration. Clan leaders understood the power of the British government and remembered the failure of earlier risings.
Alexander MacDonald of Boisdale reportedly advised Charles to go home. Without French military support, the venture appeared reckless. Charles insisted that Highland loyalty would provide the army he needed and continued toward the mainland.
Which clans became connected to the Forty-Five?
The Jacobite army was never simply “all the Highland clans.” Families and branches made different choices, sometimes dividing internally. Among the most important supporters were sections of Clan Donald, including Clanranald, Keppoch and Glengarry, and the Camerons of Lochiel. MacPhersons, Stewarts of Appin and others also joined.
Other influential Highland leaders remained loyal to the government or stayed out. The MacDonalds of Sleat and the MacLeods of Dunvegan did not provide the support Charles hoped for. This complexity is explored in our guide to the Jacobite clans who took different sides.
For family histories, read about Clan Donald and the Lords of the Isles, the branches of Clan MacDonald, and Clan Cameron of Lochaber.
How did the rising grow after Eriskay?
Charles crossed to the mainland and established himself near Loch nan Uamh and Arisaig. Messengers went out to potential supporters. On 19 August 1745, the Jacobite standard was raised at Glenfinnan, where the arrival of Cameron clansmen gave the campaign the momentum it badly needed.
The army moved south, captured Edinburgh and defeated government forces at Prestonpans. It invaded England and reached Derby in December before the leadership decided to retreat. The campaign ended at Culloden on 16 April 1746.
Why is the Eriskay landing important?
Eriskay marks the moment an improbable private expedition became a rising. Charles arrived with little military strength, uncertain backing and no guarantee that even committed Jacobites would follow him. The decision to continue changed Scottish and British history.
The landing also reveals the gap between memory and reality. Later art often depicts an inevitable surge of Highland enthusiasm. In truth, support had to be negotiated clan by clan, and many experienced leaders recognised the danger from the beginning.
Find the Highland name in your family
Jacobite history is woven through many clan stories, including families that supported the rising, opposed it or divided over it. Explore your name without reducing that complex history to a single side.
Frequently asked questions
When did Bonnie Prince Charlie land on Eriskay?
He landed on 23 July 1745.
Where is Eriskay?
Eriskay is a small island in the Outer Hebrides, between South Uist and Barra.
Did the Highland chiefs immediately support Charles?
No. Several warned him that an uprising without substantial French troops and weapons was likely to fail.
When was the Jacobite standard raised?
Charles raised his father’s standard at Glenfinnan on 19 August 1745.
How did the Forty-Five end?
The Jacobite army was defeated at the Battle of Culloden on 16 April 1746.
Related Scottish history
- The Jacobite Rising and the clans who chose different sides
- Clan Donald and the Lords of the Isles
- Clan Cameron history and Lochaber heritage
Sources and further reading
The National Trust for Scotland’s history of the 1745 Rising records the landing at Eriskay and the cautious response of local leaders.