Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Drummond, William (1690-1746)
DRUMMOND, WILLIAM, fourth Viscount of Strathallan (1690–1746), Jacobite, born in 1690, was the fourth but eldest surviving son of Sir John Drummond, knt., of Machany, Perthshire, by his wife, Margaret, daughter of Sir William Stewart, knt., of Innernytie. His father, grandson of the Hon. Sir James Drummond of Machany, second son of James Drummond, first lord Maderty [q. v.], and colonel of the Perthshire foot in the ‘engagement’ to rescue Charles I in 1648, was outlawed in 1690 for his attachment to the house of Stuart. On 26 May 1711 Drummond succeeded his cousin William as fourth Viscount of Strathallan. He was among the first to engage in the rising of 1715, and was taken prisoner at the battle of Sheriffmuir, 13 Nov. of that year, and carried to Stirling, but under the act of grace passed in 1717 was not subjected to prosecution or forfeiture at that time (Browne, History of the Highlands, ed. 1845, ii. 326, 355). In 1745, within a fortnight after Prince Charles Edward raised his standard at Glenfinnan, Drummond joined him with reinforcements at Perth, and was left commander-in-chief of the prince's forces in Scotland when the latter marched into England. At the battle of Culloden, 14 April 1746, he commanded with Lord Pitsligo the Perth squadron in the second line of the highland army (ib. iii. 242), and was unhorsed at the final charge of the English forces. Endeavouring to remount with the assistance of a servant, he was run through the body by an officer of dragoons, and died soon afterwards (Chambers, Rebellion of 1745–6, ed. 1869, p. 311 n.) Bishop Forbes states that the officer was Colonel Howard, whom Drummond, ‘resolving to die in the field rather than by the hand of the executioner,’ had purposely attacked (Jacobite Memoirs, ed. Chambers, p. 296). He had married (contract dated 1 Nov. 1712) Margaret, eldest daughter of Margaret, baroness Nairne, and Lord William Murray, whose devotion to the cause of the chevalier led to her imprisonment in the castle of Edinburgh from 11 Feb. to 22 Nov. 1746 (Johnstone, Memoirs of the Rebellion, 3rd ed. p. 152), and by her had seven sons and six daughters. She died at Machany 28 May 1773. James, the eldest son, also took part in the rebellion of 1745, and was included in the act of attainder passed 4 June 1746 as ‘James Drummond, eldest son of William, viscount of Strathallan,’ although he had then actually succeeded his father in that title. He died at Sens in Champagne, 22 June 1765.
[Douglas's Peerage of Scotland (Wood), ii. 553–5; Malcolm's Memoir of the House of Drummond, pp. 110–15; Chambers's Rebellion of 1745–6, ed. 1869, pp. 68, 258, 270, 311; Miscellany of the Spalding Club, vol. i.]