The Battle of Glen Shiel occurred near the western coast of Scotland on June 10, 1719 between the British and an alliance of Jacobite Highlanders and Spaniards, resulting in a victory for the British forces.
The year 1719 saw what was known as the "Little Rising" in favour of the Old Pretender. Owing to a storm, only a small expeditionary force of Spanish soldiers (around 300 strong) landed at Lochalsh in Scotland to reinforce and encourage the rising of the Highland clans. The Spaniards were accompanied by William Mackenzie, Fifth Earl of Seaforth, who was chief of the Clan Mackenzie; the Earl Marischal; and the Marquis of Tullibardine; and some Irish officers. They were joined by a few hundred Highlanders including members of the Clan MacRae, Robert Roy MacGregor, and a party of MacGregors.
The Jacobite forces were to be led by the Earl of Seaforth and also by John Cameron of Lochiel, XVIII Captain and Chief of Clan Cameron; along with Lord George Murray. Their plan of action was to advance upon and capture Inverness.
The government forces, however, were aware of their movements. As the Jacobites waited for reinforcements at Eilean Donan Castle in Loch Duich, on May 10 the Royal Navy sailed into Loch Alsh, adjacent to Loch Duich, and bombarded the castle with cannon fire from three warships: HMS Worcester, Flamborough and Enterprise. The exploding of powder kegs set within the castle also contributed to its destruction. As Charles Boyle, captain of the HMS Worcester, reports, a small amphibious force took the castle after light resistance on May 11. “In the castle we found an Irishman, a captain, a Spanish lieutenant, a serjeant, one Scotch rebel and 39 Spanish soldiers, 343 barrels of powder and 52 barrels of musquet shot. We likewise burnt several barns etc where they had a quantity of corn for the use of their camp.”[1] At Loch Duich, the old kirk (church) of Kintail was also destroyed. The captured Spanish soldiers were taken aboard the British frigates and shipped to Leith and imprisoned there.
Government forces under General Joseph Wightman came from Inverness and confronted the Jacobites at Glen Shiel, just a few miles from Loch Duich, on June 10. The Jacobites were poorly provisioned and armed, and when expected Jacobite support from the Lowlanders was minimal, spirits fell completely. The Rising was abandoned and the Highlanders dispersed to their homes. The Spaniards surrendered to Wightman. John Cameron of Lochiel, after hiding for a time in the Highlands, made his way back to exile in France.