Rob Roy McGregor Is Exposed As A Tartan Turncoat

HE WAS romanticised by Sir Walter Scott and glamorised by Hollywood. But a new investigation by one of Scotland’s leading historians has revealed that Rob Roy MacGregor was not so much a tartan Robin Hood as a robbing hood.

David Stevenson, emeritus professor of Scottish history at St Andrews University, will claim in a new book that the folk hero was a traitor, spy and fraudster.

Stevenson’s most shocking claim is that Rob Roy betrayed his own side by selling Jacobite secrets to the English government.

The full extent of Rob Roy’s self-seeking villainy has surprised Stevenson, who has completed years of research and quarried previously ignored original sources to produce the first authoritative study of the cattle raider whose story has enthralled generations and inspired Hollywood.

Rob Roy succeeded in becoming a legend in his own lifetime of 63 years and was compared with Robin Hood while he was still alive.

It is a myth that has been handed down, and embellished by the likes of Daniel Defoe, Sir Walter Scott and actor Liam Neeson, over the centuries. His neatly tended grave at Balquhidder is still a place of homage for thousands of visitors each year.

But Stevenson has demolished the Rob Roy myth after meticulously consulting bulging archives, including court proceedings and the estate records of the Dukes of Montrose and Argyll. His book, a 300-page volume entitled Rob Roy: The Man and the Myth, will be published next year.

Stevenson’s research has found that the cattle drover was not outlawed after being set up as a fall guy in a plot to steal money from the Duke of Montrose as depicted in the Hollywood movie, or because he was a symbol of resistance to tyranny.

Stevenson said: "He was outlawed as the result of a carefully arranged swindle. Rob Roy deliberately planned to go bankrupt at least six months in advance and hid his assets by passing them on to other members of his family."

Rob Roy’s behaviour during the 1715 Jacobite Rebellion was every bit as deceitful, according to Stevenson.

Although his family were devout Jacobites, his close association with the Duke of Argyll, chief of the pro-Hanoverian Campbells, meant that Rob Roy and his men took no part in the battle of Sheriffmuir, where the Jacobites’ advance was finally halted.

It is known that Rob Roy, who did take part in some of the early fighting, had contact with the Hanoverians. But over the years, one man’s cattle raider has become another man’s freedom fighter, and the Rob Roy story has been skewed to mesh with the rise of Scottish nationalism.

Stevenson has discovered that Rob Roy was a paid agent for the Hanoverians, although he declines to share his evidence for this claim ahead of publication.

He said: "I have found evidence that he was selling intelligence to the chief of the Hanoverian army in Scotland. This is typical of Rob Roy. He sells himself as a Jacobite, but at the same time he was selling information to the government."

Stevenson added: "I expect the book will put a few noses out of joint. It is a book that has not been influenced by the Clan MacGregor. But I did not intend to denigrate a national hero when I started my research.

"In fact, I was surprised at the extent of his double dealing and criminality. He encouraged comparisons with the Robin Hood myth. He was a confidence trickster and was very clever at getting people to take his side. He sells himself as the little man being done down by the powerful."

Stevenson said Rob Roy had not previously been subjected to serious academic scrutiny because he was not that important during his lifetime.

"He is important now because of the astonishing Robin Hood myth that has grown up around him, something that he himself sought to encourage during his lifetime," said Stevenson.

"When studying some of the original sources, I got the impression that some people had deliberately chosen to ignore some evidence because it did not square with the myth."

The professor’s claims about Rob Roy were condemned last night by a spokeswoman for the Clan Gregor Society, who said she was "totally shocked".

She said: "It is dreadful and completely untrue. We have a historian who has done two occasional papers on Rob Roy and nothing of this sort has been found.

"He was the Scottish equivalent to Robin Hood, except he was actually real. He was a very good clan leader and did a lot to help the poor. He only swindled those who oppressed the poor. He may have robbed from the rich, but he didn’t do it in his own interests.

"We certainly don’t agree with these accusations, but we can’t stop people expressing opinions and I very much doubt if we would promote the book’s sale."

Lady Mary McGrigor of Dalmally, who has written a book called Rob Roy’s Country, said: "I wouldn’t say he was a swindler exactly, but he was certainly a bit of an adventurer.

"Sir Walter Scott definitely romanticised him, but I think he was really rather a rascal and certainly pinched 2,000 sheep from my ancestors. I don’t think he was the hero he was made out to be.

"However, he didn’t murder anyone, as far as I know, and was supposed to have helped the poor. So he wasn’t all bad. At the end of the day, he was very clever at getting away with things."

Stevenson himself admits Rob Roy had a likeable side. "He was witty and had charm," he said. "He was educated too and could write English well.

"He had a good understanding of the law and how to manipulate it. I wouldn’t say that I came to like him as a person.

"It would be interesting to sit down and talk with him, but I would definitely keep my hand on my wallet."

THE Rob Roy story has been told in many forms. The first recorded incarnation was in a Daniel Defoe poem, entitled ‘The Highland Rogue’ in 1723.

The most famous version, and the one that has been used as a standard for other adaptations, is Sir Walter Scott’s 1818 novel, Rob Roy.

Rob Roy has found his way on to the big screen on no fewer than five occasions. Three silent movies, all called Rob Roy, appeared in 1911, 1913 and 1922.

In 1954, Richard Todd starred in a Walt Disney production of Rob Roy, The Highland Rogue and more recently Liam Neeson’s 1995 depiction of Rob Roy was a box office smash.

An animated version of the tale for children was released on DVD last year and there have been various documentaries, books and even an audio version of the Walter Scott novel, narrated by Brian Cox.

Rob Roy’s grave in Balquhidder, and the tree in which he hid when on the run, Eppie Callum’s Oak, have become major tourist attractions. The tree has been classed as one of 100 Heritage Trees of Scotland.

"Lady Mary McGrigor of Dalmally, who has written a book called Rob Roy’s Country, said: "I wouldn’t say he was a swindler exactly, but he was certainly a bit of an adventurer.
"Sir Walter Scott definitely romanticised him, but I think he was really rather a rascal and certainly pinched 2,000 sheep from my ancestors. I don’t think he was the hero he was made out to be.
"However, he didn’t murder anyone, as far as I know, and was supposed to have helped the poor. So he wasn’t all bad. At the end of the day, he was very clever at getting away with things."
Stevenson himself admits Rob Roy had a likeable side. "He was witty and had charm," he said. "He was educated too and could write English well.
"He had a good understanding of the law and how to manipulate it. I wouldn’t say that I came to like him as a person.
"It would be interesting to sit down and talk with him, but I would definitely keep my hand on my wallet."

Aye, we Scotts are much maligned. A bit of chicanery on the locals is all in a wee bit of fun. And if we need a legend, well we can create one. Besides, its the winner who create the most believed history. Slainte'

B.S.

The persecution of Clan Gregor continues, the Proscriptive Acts of 1603 made the very name outlaw as King James VI, issued an edict proclaiming the name MacGregor "altogidder abolished," meaning that those who bore the name must renounce it or suffer death. Rob Roy himself used the name Campbell.

"MacGregor, despite them, will flourish forever."

Braveheart was a great movie, but it was an Americian type movie. Rob Roy was more of a realistic look at the last years of a proud people before they were completely ground under the heel of the English. Braveheart was (to me) an adolecent vengance rampage, classic americin movie. Rob Roy was less of a movie but with more emotional connection for me.

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