Battle site of Prestonpans (1745) **

Region: Edinburgh

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Description:

This was the first significant conflict in the second Jacobite Rising. The battle took place on September 21st 1745. The Jacobite army loyal to James Francis Edward Stuart and led by his son Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) achieved a stunning victory over the redcoat army loyal to the Hanoverian George II, led by Sir John Cope.

It was initially known as the Battle of Gladsmuir but was fought at Prestonpans. The victory was a huge morale boost for the Jacobites, and the story of it soon entered legend; a story of triumph over a large army by a smaller force of farmers, peasants and rebels, led by a young man with no previous experience of battle.