Capture of Eilean Donan Castle

Capture of Eilean Donan Castle
Part of the Jacobite Rising War of the Quadruple Alliance
Eilean Donan Castle
Date 10 May 1719 Location Eilean Donan, Loch Duich West Scotland 57°16′26.50″N 05°30′58″W / 57.2740278°N 5.51611°W / 57.2740278; -5.51611Coordinates: 57°16′26.50″N 05°30′58″W / 57.2740278°N 5.51611°W / 57.2740278; -5.51611 Result British government victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of Great Britain	Spain Jacobites
Commanders and leaders
Captain Chester Boyle	Unknown
Strength
1 Fourth rate 1 Fifth-rate 1 Post ship	1 castle 50 soldiers
Casualties and losses
12 killed or wounded	All killed, wounded or captured
Location within Scotland

The Capture of Eilean Donan Castle was an land-based naval engagement that took place in 1719 during the Jacobite Rising of that year, and the War of the Quadruple Alliance. A British naval reconnaissance force of three ships attacked the castle of Eilean Donan on the west coast of Scotland, which was held by Spanish troops. After a naval bombardment, the British government forces stormed the castle, and the defenders surrendered. The castle was subsequently destroyed with gunpowder.

The Spanish had sent troops after Cardinal Giulio Alberoni set up the Alberoni Plan a decision to support the Jacobite claims and its Highland allies both to depose George I and enthrone James Stuart. The Spanish landed over 300 marines with various Jacobite commanders such as George Keith (the tenth Earl Marischal). Intending to spread the rising Spanish forces had established a garrison in Eilean Donan Castle, one of Lord Seaforth's residences.

At the beginning of May, the Royal Navy sent five ships to the area for reconnaissance: two patrolling off Skye and three around Lochalsh, adjacent to Loch Duich. Early in the morning on Sunday 10 May, these latter three, the fifty gun HMS Worcester, the forty four gun HMS Enterprise, the twenty gun HMS Flamborough, anchored off Eilean Donan on the north side of Loch Duich.

Their first move was to send a boat ashore under a flag of truce to negotiate, but when the Spanish soldiers in the castle fired at the boat, it was recalled and all three ships opened fire on the castle for an hour or more. They then shifted anchorage and waited, the wind blowing a fresh gale.