[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Battle of Inverurie in 1745 is the second historic battle to have taken place there, the first being during the Wars of Independence in 1304.

The battle took place during the second major Jacobite rising; a conflict between those who supported King Charles Stuart’s right to rule and those supporting the British Government and William of Orange who had taken the British throne.

Lord Lewis Gordon was a Jacobite and had managed to raise a significant force and funds, but in doing so was in conflict with his brother Cosmo George Gordon, 3rd Duke of Gordon, who supported the British Government.

John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun who had been given the role of maintaining order in Scotland by King William, instructed the chief of Clan MacLeod, Norman McLeod (known as The Wicked Man) to prevent Lord Lewis Gordon from raising any more support. Norman McLeod was able to gain his own support before confronting Lord Lewis Gordon from George Munro, chief of Clan Munro and James Grant, chief of Clan Grant.

Lord Lewis Gordon, aware that a force was being raised against him, marched to Aberdeen in order to meet with others favourable to his cause including Clan Farquharson, and French troops who landed at Montrose

Norman McLeod’s forces began marching on Aberdeen, however Clan Grant, concerned about their holdings within Strathspey, returned home and Clan Munro decided to hold up at Oldmeldrum. Norman McLeod however continued on and occupied the town of Inverurie outside Aberdeen.

On hearing that Norman McLeod was so close Lord Lewis Gordon moved against him marching his forces along the river bank towards Inverurie. It was his French contingent that encountered McLeod’s forces first on the south west side of Inverurie. A battle ensued as Gordon’s force attacked the town of Inverurie.

MacLeod’s forces attempted to hold off the attack using the town as cover to fire on their enemy, but were pushed back and had to retreat fleeing to Elgin. The battle raged on as they retreated and it is said that MacLeod’s forces fought their way out by moonlight.