When William landed in Torbay on 5 November 1688, the Brigade formed part of the invasion force; a small detachment was engaged in the Wincanton Skirmish on 20 November 1688, one of the few actions of a largely bloodless campaign. On 4 January 1689, Mackay was appointed commander in Scotland; he was delayed by illness, arriving in Leith on 25 March 1689. His original mission was to protect the Scottish Convention in Edinburgh; but on 12 March James landed in Ireland and John Graham, Viscount Dundee launched a rising in Scotland in his support.