Donald Cameron of Lochiel - Later Life and Reputation

Later Life and Reputation

Clan Cameron lost about half their strength at Culloden, and Lochiel himself was badly wounded; he eventually made it to safety in France along with the Prince in October. Despite attempting to persuade Louis XV of France to mount a second landing, he never returned to Scotland. He took command of the French Regiment of Albany in 1747, and died in Bergues on 26th October 1748. He is buried in Bergues cemetery where there is a memorial to him.

It is notable that one of his acts whilst in charge of Edinburgh was to order that there be no reprisals against the Whigs for their opposition to the Prince. He had previously given orders to care for the prisoners after Prestonpans, and later he would ensure that Glasgow did not suffer any reprisals for its loyalty to George II. Such acts contributed to his reputation for humanity; he became known to both friends and foes as the "Gentle Lochiel", a name that carried into the romantic myths which would grow up around the Rising.