Rob Roy
Rob Roy, born Raibert Ruadh in Scotland, is a historical figure renowned for his connection to the MacGregor clan and his tumultuous life marked by cattle trading and rebellion. The son of Donald Glas MacGregor, Rob Roy faced significant challenges after the failure of the Jacobite rebellion in 1689, including the outlawing of his clan's name and the seizure of his father’s lands. Following a series of financial difficulties and an eviction resulting from a botched cattle trade, Rob Roy turned to cattle rustling, targeting the local landowners and the duke of Montrose, who had confiscated his lands. His actions during the Jacobite uprisings of the early 18th century further solidified his reputation, as he played a role in raising clan support and navigating the political landscape between rival factions. Despite being captured and sentenced to death for his crimes, he escaped execution and eventually received a pardon. Rob Roy's legacy has evolved into that of a folk hero, often compared to Robin Hood, inspiring numerous literary and cinematic portrayals, although many details of his life remain mythologized and embellished over time.
Rob Roy
- Born: March 7, 1671
- Birthplace: Glengyle, Scotland
- Died: December 28, 1734
- Place of death: Balquhidder, Perthshire, Scotland
Scottish outlaw
Major offenses: Fraud, treason, banditry, cattle rustling, and debt
Active: 1712-1726
Locale: Scottish Highlands
Sentence: Death for cattle rustling; pardoned in 1727
Early Life
Rob Roy (rawb roy) was born the third son of Donald Glas MacGregor of Glengyle, Scotland. Though his father technically did not own the family’s land, his influence as well as his hereditary tenantship led to his using the customary title “of.” Rob Roy’s father was the chief of the MacGregor clan living in the area. Rob Roy inherited his red hair from his mother, Margaret Campbell, which resulted in his Gaelic name of Raibert Ruadh (ruadh meaning “red”). It is likely that while growing up Rob Roy had some education in the nearby Lowlands, for he was able to write in English. It would have been necessary for him to speak English in order to deal with the Lowlands traders.
During the first Jacobite rebellion in 1689, Rob Roy and his father fought in support of the Stuart king, James, at the successful Battle of Killiecrankie. Once the rebellion was put down, however, the name MacGregor was outlawed, and Rob Roy’s father was taken prisoner. Rob Roy subsequently took on his mother’s name of Campbell. He then drove cattle in the area of Crieff and was so successful in his business that he was able to purchase the lairdship of Inversnaid. He married his cousin, Mary Helen MacGregor of Comar, in January, 1693. Rob Roy and Mary had four sons: Ranald, Robin Oig, James Mor, and Coll.
Rob Roy appears to have entered into a formal business relationship with the duke of Montrose, from whom he borrowed money against future cattle trading earnings. In 1712, Rob Roy’s head drover disappeared with one thousand pounds of the money that Rob Roy had borrowed, a substantial sum. Rob Roy went in unsuccessful search of the drover; upon his return, he found himself and his family evicted from their lands in partial payment of the debt. He then entered into a long-term struggle with the duke, from whom he stole cattle.
Criminal Career
As early as 1709, Rob Roy owed money to various creditors, for he needed constantly to borrow money to buy more cattle. Rob Roy prepared for his eventual discrediture by signing over his properties to friends, hoping that the lands thereby would not be taken. The duke of Montrose was nonetheless able to confiscate most of Rob Roy’s land; he then publicized Rob Roy’s credit problems and urged all soldiers and magistrates to capture him. Therefore, what would normally have been only a matter of settling with each debtor turned Rob Roy into a fugitive who could not negotiate his way out of his debts.
In 1712, Rob Roy turned to thievery. His thievery against the duke is neither surprising nor out of line with the activities of many other Highlanders who resented the Lowlanders’ encroachment and seizure of the lands they had occupied over many generations. The rugged terrain of the region lent itself particularly well to cattle rustling, and thus Rob Roy began stealing cattle from the duke. He even once kidnapped the duke’s factor (agent). Rob Roy, however, soon began to rustle cattle from other local landowners who refused to pay blackmail (money paid for the protection of cattle against thieves). Rob Roy’s activities eventually earned him an alliance with the duke of Argyll, who was quarreling with the duke of Montrose.
Rob Roy played to both sides in the Jacobite rebellion of 1715. He was chosen to raise the MacGregors in Aberdeenshire, and he helped guide the Jacobite army from Perth to Stirling in November. At the Battle of Sheriffmuir, a smaller army led by the duke of Argyll succeeded in stopping the Jacobite advance. Although Rob Roy played no part in this battle, at the end of the unsuccessful rebellion he was wanted for high treason for his aid to the Jacobites. It is claimed that he was captured but managed to escape multiple times.
Legal Action and Outcome
Rob Roy was captured once for cattle rustling and sentenced to death, but his friends helped him to escape before his execution could take place. Rob Roy eventually received an official pardon from the king for his earlier charge of high treason.
Impact
The legend of Rob Roy has been retold many times and in many forms, starting with The Highland Rogue (1723), sometimes attributed to Daniel Defoe and written just a few years before Rob Roy’s pardon of 1727, which was granted in response to public pressure. Sir Walter Scott memorialized him in Rob Roy in 1817, and William Wordsworth wrote a number of poems highlighting his activities. There are multiple films about his exploits, and he is affectionately known to this day as the “Scottish Robin Hood.” However, much of what is written and shown on screen about Roy is quite false.
Bibliography
Murray, W. H. Rob Roy MacGregor: His Life and Times. Edinburgh: Canongate Books, 1998. Examines Rob Roy’s life and attempts to dispel the myths associated with him.
National Archives of Scotland. The Real Rob Roy: A Guide to the Sources in the Scottish Record Office. Edinburgh: Author, 1999. This is mainly for the researcher wishing to learn more about Rob Roy through records kept in Scotland.
Stevenson, David. The Hunt for Rob Roy: The Man and the Myths. Edinburgh: John Donald, 2004. This comprehensive book by a noted Scottish historian challenges standard views of Rob Roy’s role in the Jacobite uprising, accusing him of being a traitor.