Dundee, John Graham, 1st Viscount

views updated Jun 08 2018

Dundee, John Graham, 1st Viscount [S] (1648–89). John Graham of Claverhouse was heir to a small estate 10 miles from Dundee. He was educated at the University of St Andrews, and in the 1670s served in the Dutch and French armies. He next accepted a commission in the Scots cavalry. A conservative royalist and episcopalian, he made a career in internal security duties against presbyterian radicals. Politically, he allied with the Drummond brothers and with James, duke of York (later James II). After 1685 the Drummonds ruled Scotland for James, and Claverhouse was made provost of Dundee and a viscount.

After the Glorious Revolution, he rebelled against the provisional government of Scotland in 1689. He could only raise a small army, mainly Highlanders, but his Williamite opponent, the Highlander General Hugh Mackay of Scourie, had few seasoned troops and was routed at Killiecrankie in Strathtay. Dundee died in the battle. His army failed to break into the Lowlands and disintegrated after defeat.

Bruce Philip Lenman

About this article

John Graham of Claverhouse 1st Viscount Dundee

All Sources -
Updated Aug 24 2016 About encyclopedia.com content Print Topic