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Jacobite troops occupy Fort Augustus, Scotland

The siege of Fort William took place in the Scottish Highlands during the 1745 Jacobite Rising, from 20 March to 3 April 1746. On 1 February 1746, the Jacobites abandoned the siege of Stirling Castle...

The siege of Fort William took place in the Scottish Highlands during the 1745 Jacobite Rising, from 20 March to 3 April 1746.

On 1 February 1746, the Jacobites abandoned the siege of Stirling Castle and withdrew to Inverness to wait for spring. This period was used to reduce government strongpoints in the Highlands, including Blair Castle and Fort Augustus; after its surrender on 1 March, they moved onto Fort William.

Advance elements of the Jacobite force arrived outside the fort on 8 March; operations began on 20 March but made little progress. When the Duke of Cumberland and his army left Aberdeen in early April, the besiegers were recalled to Inverness and the siege abandoned.

Historical Significance

The siege of Fort William took place in the Scottish Highlands during the 1745 Jacobite Rising, from 20 March to 3 April 1746.

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Events After

  1. Battle of Culloden: Royalist troops under the Duke of Cumberland defeat the Jacobite army of Charles Edward Stuart in th

    Battle of Culloden: Royalist troops under the Duke of Cumberland defeat the Jacobite army of Charles Edward Stuart in the final battle of the Jacobite Rising on British soil

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  3. Battle of Falkirk Muir, the Jacobites under Charles Stuart defeat Hanoverian forces

    Battle of Falkirk Muir, the Jacobites under Charles Stuart defeat Hanoverian forces

  4. French troops conquer Brussels

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  5. The Duke of Cumberland's troops occupy Aberdeen

    Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland (15 April 1721 [N.S.] – 31 October 1765), was the third and youngest son of George II of Great Britain and Ireland and his wife, Caroline of Ansbach.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on February 20, 1745?
The siege of Fort William took place in the Scottish Highlands during the 1745 Jacobite Rising, from 20 March to 3 April 1746. On 1 February 1746, the Jacobites abandoned the siege of Stirling Castle and withdrew to Inverness to wait for spring. This period was used to reduce government strongpoints in the Highlands, including Blair Castle and Fort Augustus; after its surrender on 1 March, they moved onto Fort William.
Why is Jacobite troops occupy Fort Augustus, Scotland significant?
The siege of Fort William took place in the Scottish Highlands during the 1745 Jacobite Rising, from 20 March to 3 April 1746.

Explore More

February 20 in HistoryYear 1745