Fort George

Fort George is 12 miles northeast of Inverness at the narrow entrance to the Moray Firth.

The Museum at the Fort is open most of the year with an entrance fee. Postcode IV2 7TD

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This is a huge Fort that can only really be seen in full from the air.

Fort George was built from 1748 to 1769. It was built after the Jacobite Rising of 1745 that ended with the defeat of the Jacobite's at the Battle of Culloden in 1746.

There were a number of Forts and Military Roads built throughout Scotland at that time to prevent any more uprisings.

Culloden is 9 miles south of Fort George.

The two later Jacobite risings of 1715 and 1746 were to overthrow Kings George I and George II. These Kings were Protestant relations of the Stuart's from Germany. The English Parliament had chosen these Kings before the Catholic Stuart's from Britain, leading to Jacobite Risings, as the Stuart's from Britain had a greater claim to the throne.

The English Parliament refused to allow any more Catholic Kings or Queens, as they were seen to be friendly with Catholic France, the long running enemy of England.

These Forts and Roads were used to keep the Highland Clans from rebelling against the Kings and Queens.

The museum shows the life of soldiers at the time with information on the weapons of the day. It also covers the many Regiments based at the Fort over the centuries.

The main Government weapon of this time was the Flintlock rifle with bayonet, about 7 feet in length together. A well trained army could fire three shots per minute, and form a line that was almost impossible for Highlanders with three foot long swords to break through.

Fort George History

1714 - Queen Ann Stuart dies without leaving an heir.

1714 - the Protestant George I from Hanover in Germany, a second cousin of Anne, is proclaimed King of Great Britain by the English Parliament.

1715 - war breaks out with Jacobite's trying to overthrow George I so the Catholic James Francis Edward Stuart could become King.

1716 - James flees to exile in France, ending that uprising. New laws were then introduced to prevent Scots from possessing weapons.

1716 - many Jacobite Highlanders begin to emigrating to America and Canada.

1716 - 6 Government Regiments were set up to keep peace in the Highlands. These were mainly made up of men from Clan Campbell, Clan Fraser of Lovat, Clan Munro, and Clan Grant. These Regiments became known as the Black Watch.

1727 - George I died with his son George II becoming King of Great Britain.

1727 - a large fort was built in Inverness named Fort George.

1745 - Charles Edward Stuart / Bonnie Prince Charlie travels from exile in France in an attempt to overthrow George II. Charles had the backing of many Highland Clans, and the French were supporting him as they were keen to have a Catholic King of Great Britain, so as to end the long running wars between England and France.

1745 - Jacobite's capture Fort George.

1746 - as Government forces began regaining control of Scotland, the Jacobite's blew up Fort George so it could not be used by Government troops.

1746 April - the Battle of Culloden ends with the Jacobite's defeated for the final time, last major battle on the British mainland.

1746 - new laws were introduced to have all weapons handed in to Government forces, and the wearing of kilts and tartan was prohibited. This leads to more migration to America and Canada.

1748 - work begins on the new Fort George, 12 miles northeast of Inverness.

1765 - the War for American independence from Great Britain begins.

1769 - the new Fort George is completed with the Black Watch Regiment based there to control the Highlanders.

1760s - new land laws were introduced that led to many Highlanders being forced off their land, leading to increased migration to America. Landowners then began using the land for large scale sheep, cattle and crop farming.

1783 - America gains Independence from Great Britain.

1787 - Britain begins transporting criminals to Australia. These people could be sent to Australia for minor crimes, an easy way to get rid of anyone seen as trouble for the Government. Many Clansmen were deported to Australia for sheep stealing or cattle rustling.

1846 - potato blight led to a shortage of food in the West Highlands of Scotland, leading to many Highlanders moving south to the cities.

1881 - the Seaforth Highlanders are based at Fort George.

1961 - the Queen's Own Highlanders are based at Fort George.

2007 - the Black Watch is moved from their base in Belfast to Fort George.

Today, outside the larger towns, the Highlands of Scotland are a vast wilderness with the ruins of small buildings, all that remains of the many families that once lived their.