Hugh Mackay (Scottish general)

[[File:The Dutch burn English ships during the expedition to Chatham (Raid on Medway, 1667)(Jan van Leyden, 1669).jpg|right|thumb|250px|[[Raid on the Medway|1667 Medway Raid]]; a humiliating English defeat, made worse when Mackay's regiment was accused of looting]]

[[File:The Dutch burn English ships during the expedition to Chatham (Raid on Medway, 1667)(Jan van Leyden, 1669).jpg|right|thumb|250px|[[Raid on the Medway|1667 Medway Raid]]; a humiliating English defeat, made worse when Mackay's regiment was accused of looting]]

In 1660, Mackay was commissioned [[Ensign (rank)|ensign]] in [[Royal Scots|Dumbarton's Regiment]], a Scottish mercenary unit first formed in 1619, then employed by [[Louis XIV of France]].{{efn|17th century military customs

In 1660, Mackay was commissioned [[Ensign (rank)|ensign]] in [[Royal Scots|Dumbarton's Regiment]], a Scottish mercenary unit first formed in 1619, then employed by [[Louis XIV]] of France.{{efn|17th century military customs

For many English politicians in the late 17th century, standing armies were considered a danger to individual liberties and a threat to society itself.{{sfn|Childs|1987|p=184}} The use of troops to suppress political dissent by [[the Protectorate]] and [[James II of England|James II]] created strong resistance to permanent units owing primary allegiance to the Crown or State. To prevent this, it was deliberate policy to treat regiments as the personal property of their [[Colonel#Colonel of the regiment|Colonel]]; they changed names when transferred to another and were disbanded as soon as possible.{{sfn|Chandler|Beckett|1996|p=52}}

For many English politicians in the late 17th century, standing armies were considered a danger to individual liberties and a threat to society itself.{{sfn|Childs|1987|p=184}} The use of troops to suppress political dissent by [[the Protectorate]] and [[James II of England|James II]] created strong resistance to permanent units owing primary allegiance to the Crown or State. To prevent this, it was deliberate policy to treat regiments as the personal property of their [[Colonel#Colonel of the regiment|Colonel]]; they changed names when transferred to another and were disbanded as soon as possible.{{sfn|Chandler|Beckett|1996|p=52}}

Alexander Cannon replaced Dundee, but his options were limited and his campaign ended after an assault on [[Battle of Dunkeld|Dunkeld]] in August was repulsed with heavy losses. Mackay spent the winter reducing Jacobite strongholds and constructing a new base at [[Fort William, Highland|Fort William]], while harsh weather conditions led to severe food shortages.{{sfn|Lenman |1995|p=37}} [[Thomas Buchan]] replaced Cannon in February 1690, but could only mobilise some 800 men; he was taken by surprise at [[Battle of Cromdale|Cromdale]] in May and his forces scattered. Mackay pursued him into Aberdeenshire, preventing him from establishing a secure base and in November, he relinquished command to Livingstone.{{sfn|Chichester|2004|loc=Online}}

Alexander Cannon replaced Dundee, but his options were limited and his campaign ended after an assault on [[Battle of Dunkeld|Dunkeld]] in August was repulsed with heavy losses. Mackay spent the winter reducing Jacobite strongholds and constructing a new base at [[Fort William, Highland|Fort William]], while harsh weather conditions led to severe food shortages.{{sfn|Lenman |1995|p=37}} [[Thomas Buchan]] replaced Cannon in February 1690, but could only mobilise some 800 men; he was taken by surprise at [[Battle of Cromdale|Cromdale]] in May and his forces scattered. Mackay pursued him into Aberdeenshire, preventing him from establishing a secure base and in November, he relinquished command to Livingstone.{{sfn|Chichester|2004|loc=Online}}

[[Louis XIV of France|Louis XIV]] viewed the campaign in Ireland as a low-cost way of diverting William's resources from Flanders. Despite their defeat at the [[Battle of the Boyne]] in 1690, French general [[Marquis de St Ruth]] landed at [[Limerick]] in February 1691 to launch a new campaign. Mackay was sent to Ireland as second in command to [[Godert de Ginkell, 1st Earl of Athlone|General Ginkell]]; at the [[Battle of Aughrim]] on 12 July, he directed his infantry in a series of bloody frontal assaults on the Jacobite positions on Kilcommadan Hill. When the Irish infantry finally ran out of ammunition, a fourth attempt by Mackay turned their flank and the Jacobite army collapsed when St Ruth was killed. The war ended with the [[Treaty of Limerick]] in October 1691.{{sfn|Moody|Martin|Byrne|2009|pp=503–505}}

[[Louis XIV]] viewed the campaign in Ireland as a low-cost way of diverting William's resources from Flanders. Despite their defeat at the [[Battle of the Boyne]] in 1690, French general [[Marquis de St Ruth]] landed at [[Limerick]] in February 1691 to launch a new campaign. Mackay was sent to Ireland as second in command to [[Godert de Ginkell, 1st Earl of Athlone|General Ginkell]]; at the [[Battle of Aughrim]] on 12 July, he directed his infantry in a series of bloody frontal assaults on the Jacobite positions on Kilcommadan Hill. When the Irish infantry finally ran out of ammunition, a fourth attempt by Mackay turned their flank and the Jacobite army collapsed when St Ruth was killed. The war ended with the [[Treaty of Limerick]] in October 1691.{{sfn|Moody|Martin|Byrne|2009|pp=503–505}}

== Flanders 1692 ==

== Flanders 1692 ==