John Graham of Claverhouse

Remembered fondly as ‘Bonnie Dundee’, John Graham inherited the Claverhouse estates around 1667 and soon afterwards started his career as a soldier. His first exploits were abroad where he was present at several European battles including the Battle of Seneffe and the siege of Maastricht. After this service he was ordered by Charles II to stop covenanter meetings in southwest Scotland, which the King felt were seditious in nature. This earned him the name of ‘Bluidy Clavers’ and there can be little doubt that his time spent suppressing Presbyterians throughout the 1670’s and 1680’s blackened his name in a period known by historians as the ‘killing times’. The Death of Charles II in 1685 allowed his brother King James VII (1685 – 1688) to take the throne and alter the course of the British Monarchy forever. Contested on religious grounds William, Prince of Orange invaded England and the Highland Clans rose once more in defence of the Stuart Dynasty in what would become known as the Jacobite period. Graham took charge of the Clans and led them out for the Battle of Killiecrankie where in his final hours he led them to victory. He is buried at the near by kirk at Blair Atholl.