Flora MacDonald's Monument, Kilmuir, Skye

Kilmuir (Scottish Gaelic: Cille Mhoire) village is on the west coast of the Trotternish peninsula in the north of the island of Skye (Scottish Gaelic: An t-Eilean Sgitheanach). Flora MacDonald, the Scottish heroin who helped in the escape of Bonnie Prince Charlie from Scotland after his defeat at Culloden, is buried in the Kilmuir cemetery. A high Celtic Cross marks her grave. Flora MacDonald (Gaelic: Fionnghal nic Dhòmhnaill; 1722 – 4 March 1790) was born in South Uist (Scottish Gaelic: Uibhist a Deas) in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland and died at Kingsburgh (Scottish: Gaelic: Cinnseaborgh) in Skye. This young Presbyterian woman's heroic efforts to save the young Catholic Prince's life has resulted in her name being remembered with great respect in Scottish history.

Flora MacDonald is remembered for the help she gave to Bonnie Prince Charlie after he had been defeated at the Battle of Culloden (Scottish Gaelic: Blàr Chùil Lodair) in 1746. Putting herself at risk she helped the Prince at a time when he was being hunted across the Highlands and Islands by the forces of the Duke of Cumberland. Cumberland was the third and youngest son of George II of Great Britain known for his brutality after the Battle of Culloden when he ordered his troops to show no quarter against any remaining Jacobite supporters and where his forces roamed the battlefield and stabbed any of the defeated soldiers who were still alive.

The Prince's companion Captain O'Neill sought her assistance to help the Prince escape capture. Flora MacDonald with the Prince disguised as Betty Burke, an Irish maid, set sail in a small boat with a crew of six from Benbecula on 27th June 1746, to Skye. Flora MacDonald found help for him and it was arranged for him to go to Portree (Scottish Gaelic: Port Rìgh) and from there he was taken to the island of Raasay (Scottish Gaelic: Ratharsair). Prince Charles Edward Stuart finally embarked for France from Scotland on 20 September 1746. 

There were terrible repercussions for the Scottish Gaelic Clans who supported the Jacobite Rising. There should also be no doubt of the danger into which Fora MacDonald placed herself by helping Bonnie Prince Charlie’s escape. She could have been hanged for helping the Prince to escape to France. When her role was discovered Flora was arrested and thrown into jail in the Tower of London. She was released from imprisonment after a year and in 1750 she married  Allan MacDonald. 

The couple had five sons and two daughters and moved to America. She returned to Scotland in 1789 and died at Kingsburgh (Scottish: Gaelic: Cinnseaborgh) in Skye the following year aged 68. She is now laid to rest in the cemetery of  Kilmuir. Here her memorial stands with the inscription: ‘Flora Macdonald. Preserver of Prince Charles Edward Stuart. Her name that will be mentioned in history, and if courage and fidelity be virtues, mentioned with honour’.

Image: Portrait of Flora MacDonald 1749 by Scottish portrait-painter Allan Ramsay (13 October 1713 – 10 August 1784).

Links: Transceltic - The Amazing Courage Of Flora MacDonald - 'Preserver of Prince Charles Edward Stuart’

          The Skye Museum of Highland Life website