Killiecrankie, Battle of

In British history, during the first Jacobite uprising, defeat on 27 July 1689 of General Mackay (for William of Orange) by John Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount Dundee, a supporter of James II, at Killiecrankie, Scotland. Despite the victory, Claverhouse was killed by a chance shot and the revolt soon petered out; the remaining forces were routed at Dunkeld on 21 August.

The battle was for control of the strategically important Blair Castle in Perthshire. Claverhouse's Highlanders spent several weeks plundering the Lowlands before Mackay moved north from Dunkeld with a force of about 3,000 solders. Claverhouse's army, which was inferior in numbers, was stationed along the Pass of Killiecrankie. Barefoot and armed with claymores, they suddenly rushed upon the marching troops down the steep sides of the gorge. Mackay's men were untrained, and they broke and fled.