French Fleet Abandons Attempted Jacobite Invasion of Scotland

On March 13, 1708, the French fleet, which had intended to launch a Jacobite invasion of Scotland to restore James Francis Edward Stuart (the “Old Pretender”) to the British throne, abandoned its attempt. This failure was a significant setback for the Jacobite cause, which sought to reclaim the throne after James II of England (and VII of Scotland) was deposed in the Glorious Revolution of 1688.

The invasion plan was part of a larger Franco-Jacobite strategy, capitalizing on France’s ongoing war with Britain during the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714). The French fleet, carrying troops and the Old Pretender himself, set sail from Dunkirk. The objective was to land in Scotland, rally Jacobite supporters, and possibly march on London to overthrow the Protestant Hanoverian government of Queen Anne and restore the Stuart monarchy.

However, the French fleet was spotted by the Royal Navy, and adverse weather conditions further hampered its progress. After a naval engagement known as the Battle of the Firth of Forth, the French were unable to secure a landing spot and faced considerable opposition from the British navy. Given these challenges, and the risk of significant losses or capture, the French decided to abandon the invasion attempt and returned to France.

The aborted invasion of 1708 highlighted the difficulties of mounting such operations across the North Sea, especially against a well-prepared and forewarned British naval defense. It also demonstrated the complexities of the Jacobite alliances with foreign powers like France, which were often contingent on broader European political and military dynamics. Although this invasion failed, the Jacobite cause would continue to simmer, leading to further uprisings, most notably the risings of 1715 and 1745.