A new play on the 280th anniversary of the battle at Falkirk Muir will be performed in Edinburgh on Saturday.
Lord George Murray remains a controversial figure in Scotland’s history, a brilliant battlefield commander branded a traitor by both sides during the ill-fated Jacobite Rising of 1745. On the 280th anniversary on Saturday of his last victory, at Falkirk Muir on 17 January 1746, an historian has suggested that Lord George Murray may have been on the autistic spectrum.
Murray, son of the Duke of Atholl, was a lieutenant in the British Army before switching sides to take part in the Jacobite risings of 1715 and 1719.
Pardoned for his role, he swore allegiance to King George II and was advisor to Sir John Cope, the government commander in Scotland, when Bonnie Prince Charlie landed on Eriskay in July 1745 and he switched sides again.
Murray was instrumental in the Jacobites’ victories over Cope at Prestonpans and, against all odds, against Henry “Hangman” Hawley at Falkirk.
But he was also responsible for the decision to retreat from Derby during the advance to London in December 1745 – cited as a reason for the failure of the uprising – and was called a traitor by Charles and his inner circle.
In Outlander, in which he is played by Julian Wadham, Murray is depicted clashing frequently with the impulsive Charles over military strategy.
And Charles never forgave him for advocating the retreat from Derby or his opposition to fighting the Battle of Culloden.
Murray, who favoured more advantageous ground, abandoned the Night March on Nairn on the morning of the battle without consulting Charles, and also caused upset by taking command of the right flank, relegating Clan Donald from their traditional place of honour.
Murray survived Culloden and went into exile but was shunned by Charles in France. Yet some historians claim if Murray had been given sole command, the Stuarts might have regained the crown.
1745 Association
Michael Nevin, former chair of The 1745 Association, the organisation that commemorates the Jacobite era, believes traits displayed by Murray may indicate he was on the autistic spectrum – two centuries before the condition was officially recognised.
He said: “How can one explain the paradox of Lord George? On the one hand, he was an outstanding battlefield commander prepared to risk his life for the Jacobite Cause, as he proved at Culloden, Falkirk Muir and Prestonpans.
“On the other hand, away from the battlefield, he was a prickly character who made little effort to compromise with his fellow officers or the Prince.
“The most obvious explanation for Lord George’s decision to abandon the Night March is that, having concluded that he would fail to reach the enemy camp before dawn – so the advantage of surprise would be lost – the best option was simply to turn around and regroup.
“What is extraordinary is that he took this decision unilaterally, without consulting the Prince.
“This, combined with several other incidents during the campaign, leads one to suspect that Lord George was quite likely on the autistic spectrum. According to the NHS, symptoms include ‘finding it hard to understand what others are thinking and feeling’ and ‘seeming blunt, rude or not interested in others’.
“These descriptions fit Lord George Murray to a T. His tin ear; his consistent failure to respect the conventions of collective responsibility, instead going his own way as he saw fit; even his fearlessness when in mortal peril in battle – all these may be manifestations of an autistic personality.
“If so, it helps to explain why, even to this day, Lord George Murray remains a controversial figure, regarded as a hero by many and a traitor by some.”
Professor Rab Houston MBE, Emeritus Professor of History at the University of St Andrews, and co-author of the definitive study “Autism in History: The Case of Hugh Blair of Borgue” (2000), said its findings proved autism existed in Scotland in Murray’s lifetime.
Prof Houston said: “It is quite wrong to think of autism as a solely modern condition. In our book Autism in History: the case of Hugh Blair of Borgue, world-renowned cognitive scientist Professor Uta Frith and I showed conclusively that autism was present in early 18th century Britain.
“The level of autism that Hugh had was so severe as to be obvious to the specialist, even if the condition was not called that until two centuries later.
“Today, we are much more attuned to the autistic spectrum through social media and knowledge of diagnostic criteria. That awareness can help us to understand autism in our day-to-day lives.
“Perhaps it can also open informed debate about its importance to those long dead, who have shaped our history.”
Nevin’s claim comes days before the 280th anniversary of the Battle of Falkirk Muir – the largest battle of the Jacobite uprisings, involving upwards of 20,000 men, and their last victory.
Play – Latha Chuilodair – on Saturday
Nevin has adapted the words of the Jacobite warrior poet John Roy Stuart into a play, “Latha Chuilodair” (Culloden Day), to be staged twice at the Muse Theatre in Edinburgh on Saturday to mark the anniversary.
In the play, John Roy tells the story of his life and gives his vivid account of the Battle of Falkirk Muir. Nevin’s narrative is accompanied by Gaelic songs and harp played by Mairi Callan, a former winner of the Gold Medal for Gaelic singing at the Royal National Mod.
* Latha Chuilodair is on at the Muse Theatre, Hill Street, Edinburgh, on 17 January at 2.30pm and again at 6.30pm.
