Scotland and the British army, c.1700-c.1750

Henshaw, Victoria (2011). Scotland and the British army, c.1700-c.1750. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

The historiography of Scotland and the British army in the early eighteenth century largely concerns the suppression of the Jacobite risings and the growing assimilation of Highland soldiers into its ranks during and after the Seven Years War. This thesis seeks to redress this by foregrounding all Scots and their earlier contribution to the British army. It does this by analysing the transition of Scottish soldiers from mercenaries in foreign service to soldiers of the British army. Additionally, the wider role of the British army in Scotland is investigated, including the legal constraints it operated under. The career patterns of prominent Scottish soldiers are also appraised, revealing issues of identity, motivation and nationality. Scottish auxiliary forces are then examined, especially where their function, administration and utilisation are particular to Scotland. Finally, an analysis is made of Scotland’s fortifications and their development and significance regarding the defence of Scotland and Great Britain. The thesis concludes by extending Colley’s suggestion that ‘Britishness’ stemmed from a common threat from France to include Jacobitism, evidenced by the large-scale presence of Scots of all origins in military service well before William Pitt the Elder boasted of ‘harnessing’ the military resources of the Highlands in 1762.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

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