page_title: Jacobite rising of 1745
section_title: Invasion of England
hierarchical_section_title: Jacobite rising of 1745 / Invasion of England
context_page_description: The Jacobite rising of 1745, also known as the Forty-five Rebellion or simply the '45, was an attempt by Charles Edward Stuart to regain the British throne for his father, James Francis Edward Stuart. It took place during the War of the Austrian Succession, when the bulk of the British Army was fighting in mainland Europe, and proved to be the last in a series of revolts that began in 1689, with major outbreaks in 1708, 1715 and 1719.
  Charles launched the rebellion on 19 August 1745 at Glenfinnan in the Scottish Highlands, capturing Edinburgh and winning the Battle of Prestonpans in September. At a council in October, the Scots agreed to invade England after Charles assured them of substantial support from English Jacobites and a simultaneous French landing in Southern England. On that basis, the Jacobite army entered England in early November, reaching Derby on 4 December, where they decided to turn back.
  Similar discussions had taken place at Carlisle, Preston and Manchester and many felt they had gone too far already.
context_section_description: Murray divided the army into two columns to conceal their destination from General Wade, government commander in Newcastle, and entered England on 8 November unopposed. On 10th, they reached Carlisle, an important border fortress before the 1707 Union but whose defences were now in poor condition, held by a garrison of 80 elderly veterans. Despite this, without siege artillery the Jacobites would have to starve it into submission, an operation for which they had neither the equipment or time. The castle capitulated on 15 November, after learning Wade's relief force was delayed by snow; when he retook the town in December, Cumberland wanted to execute those responsible.
  Leaving a small garrison, the Jacobites continued south to Preston on 26 November, then Manchester on 28th. Here they received the first notable intake of English recruits, which were formed into the Manchester Regiment. Their commander was Francis Towneley, a Lancashire Catholic who previously served as an officer in the French Army; his elder brother Richard narrowly escaped execution for his part in the 1715 Rising. 
  At previous Council meetings in Preston and Manchester, many Scots felt they had already gone far enough, but agreed to continue when Charles assured them Sir Watkin Williams Wynn would meet them at Derby, while the Duke of Beaufort was preparing to seize the strategic port of Bristol. When they reached Derby on 4 December, there was no sign of these reinforcements, and the Council convened the following day to discuss next steps. 
  There was no sign of a French landing in England, and despite the large crowds that turned out to see them on the march south, only Manchester provided a significant number of recruits; Preston, a Jacobite stronghold in 1715, supplied three. Murray argued they had gone as far as possible and now risked being cut off by superior forces, with Cumberland advancing north from London, and Wade moving south from Newcastle. Charles admitted he had not heard from the English Jacobites since leaving France; this meant he lied when claiming otherwise and his relationship with the Scots was irretrievably damaged.
  The council were overwhelmingly in favour of retreat, strengthened by news the French had landed supplies, pay and Scots and Irish regulars from the Royal Écossais and the Irish Brigade at Montrose. The despatch from their commander Lord John Drummond allegedly reported 10,000 French troops were preparing to follow him, "greatly influencing" the council. 
  While debated ever since, contemporaries did not believe the Hanoverian regime would collapse, even if the Jacobites reached London. The decision was driven by lack of English support or of a French landing in England, not proximity to the capital, and its wisdom supported by many modern historians. Lack of heavy weapons allowed the Jacobites to move quickly and out-march their opponents, but would be a disadvantage in a set piece battle. In a letter of 30 November, the Duke of Richmond, who was with Cumberland's army, listed five possible options for the Jacobites, of which retreating to Scotland was by far the best for them, and the worst for the government.
  Although the British government was concerned by reports of an invasion fleet at Dunkirk, it is unclear how serious this was. Saxe was assembling troops for an offensive into Flanders, while Dunkirk was a major privateer base and always busy. The threat of an invasion was a far more cost-effective way to absorb British resources than doing so, and these plans were formally cancelled in January 1746.
  The retreat badly damaged the relationship between Charles and the Scots, both sides viewing the other with suspicion and hostility. Elcho later wrote Murray believed they could have continued fighting in Scotland "for several years", forcing the Crown to agree to terms as its troops were desperately needed for the war on the Continent. However, this seems equally unlikely; despite victories in Flanders, by early 1746, Finance Minister Machault was warning Louis that the British naval blockade had reduced the Fre
caption: The March of the Guards to Finchley by William Hogarth; soldiers mustered to defend London against Jacobite forces
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