James Graham Biography

Birth of James Graham, son of John, 4th Earl of Montrose

Created Earl Montrose, 5th, on his fathers death

Marries Magdalen Carnegie

Elected Member of Tables, a comittee set up to represent religious grievances

Charles I concedes the Scottish right to free church assembly and a free Parliament

A general assembly of the Scottish church abolishes the episcopacy

The 1st Bishops War ends without fighting by the Pacification of Berwick. Charles I concedes the Scottish right to free church assembly and a free Parliament

Signs the National Covenant in Greyfriars Kirkyard to restore Presbyterianism

Signs the National Covenant in Greyfriars Kirkyard to restore Presbyterianism

Helps raise a Covenantor Army to oppose the Royalist

Copies of the Covenant are carried to all parts of Scotland

The Scots Church Assembly decideds that bishops should be deposed or excommunicated

Defeats an English royalist force at Newburn

The Covenanters are paid pounds 850 & allowed to occupy the northern counties of England

After Charles I signed the Treaty of Berwick Montrose invades England

The Covenanters are paid pounds 850 & allowed to occupy the northern counties of England

Occupies Newcastle after victory at Newburn

Captures Aberdeen for the Covenanters

Captures Aberdeen for the Covenanters

Captures Aberdeen for the Covenanters

Enters Aberdeen with 4000 Covenanters

Enters Aberdeen with 4000 Covenanters

Defeats & Royalist Army at Brig ODee & enters Aberdeen

Defeats the Royalists at Brig O'Dee & captures Aberdeen from the Covenanters

Defeats the Royalists at Brig O'Dee & captures Aberdeen from the Covenanters

Defeats the Royalists at Brig O'Dee & captures Aberdeen from the Covenanters

Present at the signing of the Treaty with Charles I which ends the 1st Bishops War

Opposes the policies of Argyll during the Scottish Parliament, August-September

Commands the cavalry under Lord Leven against the forces of Charles I

The Treaty of Ripon ends hostilities, present at the signing

Arrested by Argyll

Charles I turns to Montrose for support who wins most of Scotland for the Royalists

Joins with Alasdair MacDonalds 1,100 Irishman & forms a combined army of 2,000 men

Appointed Lieutenant General for Scotland by Charles I

Appointed Lieutenant General for Scotland by Charles I

Created a Marquess by Charles I after Leven invades England

Attends the opening of Charles Is Parliament in Oxford

Routes the Covenanter garrison at Morpeth & takes the town

Captures Dumfries for the Royalists but later forced out by Argyll

Leads a Royalist force of 1,300 militia from Cumberland & Northumberland

Captures Dumfries for the Royalists but later forced out by Argyll

Routes the Covenanter garrison at Morpeth & takes the town

Wins a small Battle at the head of a Royalist Army invading Scotland

Wins a small Battle at the head of a Royalist Army invading Scotland

Arrives too late to support Prince Rupert at Marston Moor

Captures Glasgow on behalf of the Royalist forces of Charles I

Captures Glasgow on behalf of the Royalist forces of Charles I

Raises the Royalist Standard at Blair Atholl in the Highlands

Defeats a small Irish force led by Alasdair Macolla MacDonald

Routs Lord Elchos Army

Routs Lord Elchos Army

Wins a small Battle at the head of a Royalist Army invading Scotland

Wins a small Battle at the head of a Royalist Army invading Scotland

Wins a small Battle at the head of a Royalist Army invading Scotland

Wins a small Battle at the head of a Royalist Army invading Scotland

Captures Edinburgh after the Battle of Kilsyth

Captures Glasgow after the Battle of Kilsyth

Captures Edinburgh after the Battle of Kilsyth

Captures Glasgow after the Battle of Kilsyth

Captures Edinburgh after the Battle of Kilsyth

Captures Glasgow after the Battle of Kilsyth

Captures Edinburgh after the Battle of Kilsyth

Captures Glasgow after the Battle of Kilsyth

Wins a Battle at the head of a Royalist Army invading Scotland, destroys Argylls Army

Wins a Battle at the head of a Royalist Army invading Scotland, destroys Argylls Army

Captures Dundee

Captures Dundee

Captures Dundee

Hurry tries to surprise Montose but is trapped by MacDonald & defeated by Montrose

Defeats a Covenant & anti-Royalist Army led by Baille

The Covenanter Army has been destroyed. Leads a force against the Covenanters. Leads 4,400 infantry & 500 cavalry against 6,000 infantry & 800 horse. In 11 months Montrose has defeated a superior army 6 times & become master in Scotland

Leads a force against the Covenanters

Montrose has defeated a superior army 6 times & become master in Scotland

Moves past Perth to Stirling with the Covenanter Army under Baille in persuit

Moves past Perth to Stirling with the Covenanter Army under Baille in persuit

Decides to engage the Covenanters, the Royalists & Covenanters are just 3 miles apart

Decides to engage the Covenanters, the Royalists & Covenanters are just 3 miles apart

Commands a Royalist defeat of the Covenanters & wrecks the army of Baille & Argyll

Commands a Royalist defeat of the Covenanters & wrecks the army of Baille & Argyll

Montroses Army is destroyed, he spends the following winter building it up again. Defeated trying to join Charles I after his defeat at Naseby, flees to the Highlands. Defeated by David Leslie while trying to join Charles I after his defeat at Naseby, flees to the Highlands. Defeated by David Leslie

Montroses Army is destroyed, he spends the following winter building it up again

Opens a Parliament

Opens a Parliament

Achieves a minor success at the Battle of Callander

Achieves a minor success at the Battle of Speyside

Asked by Charles to leave Scotland because Charles has joined the Covenanters

Asked by Charles to leave Scotland because Charles has joined the Covenanters

Defeated trying to join Charles I after his defeat at Naseby, flees to the Highlands

Asked by Charles to leave Scotland because Charles has joined the Covenanters

Defeated trying to join Charles I after his defeat at Naseby, flees to the Highlands

Sails for Norway

Sails for Norway

Appointed Lieutenant General for Scotland, 2nd term, by Charles II

Appointed Lieutenant General for Scotland, 2nd term, by Charles II

Arrives from the Orkneys with a Royalist invasion force of about 1,500

Arrives from the Orkneys with a Royalist invasion force of about 1,500

The commissioners demanded that Charles disown Montrose's continuing royalist campaign in Scotland.

Arrives from the Orkneys with a Royalist invasion force of about 1,500

Lands with an invasion force on the Orkneys

Lands with an invasion force on the Orkneys

Lands with an invasion force on the Orkneys

Arrives at Thurso with the intention of joining up with the Mackenzies in Inverness

Reaches Strath Oykel waiting to be joined by the Monroes & Rosses

Wounded & defeated in battle, the invasion is defeated & Montrose flees to the hilss. Wounded & defeated in battle, the invasion is defeated & Montrose flees to the hills

Defeated by a royalist cavalry led by Colonel Strachan

Defeated by a royalist cavalry led by Colonel Strachan

Wounded & defeated in battle, the invasion is defeated & Montrose flees to the hills

Wounded & defeated in battle, the invasion is defeated & Montrose flees to the hilss

Arrested & taken to Ardvreck Castle

Montrose is betrayed his host Neil Macleod of Assynt at Ardvreck Castle

Arrested at Ardvreck Castle on Loch Assynt & handed over to the Covenanters

Arrested at Ardvreck Castle on Loch Assynt & handed over to the Covenanters

Arrested at Ardvreck Castle on Loch Assynt & handed over to the Covenanters

Taken from Ardvreck Castle & handed over to General Leslie

Led through Edinburgh by the Covenanters but his courage raises admiration

Taken through Fife & shipped to Leith

Led through Edinburgh by the Covenanters but his courage raises admiration

Charles II does not defend him because he tries to win the support of the Covenanters

Charles II does not defend him because he tries to win the support of the Covenanters

Charles II does not defend him because he tries to win the support of the Covenanters

Sentenced to death, refuses to repent

Charles II does not defend him because he tries to win the support of the Covenanters

Sentenced to death, refuses to repent

Death of James Graham, executed for treason by order of the English Parliament

Executed at Market Cross for treason by order of the English Parliament. Death of James Graham, executed for treason by order of the English Parliament

Executed at Market Cross for treason by order of the English Parliament. Death of James Graham, executed for treason by order of the English Parliament

After the Restoration, the remains of Montrose are recovered for honourable reburial

Given a state funeral & buried in the High Kirk of St Giles