On 27 June 1772, Jean Cameron of Glendessary, a Jacobite heroine, died.
Jean Cameron of Glendessary (c. 1698 - 27 June 1772), the unmarried daughter of Allan Cameron of Glendessary, had an unusual role since she was the de facto head of a cadet family of Lochiel during the rising of ‘45. Indeed, she acted as tacksman and agent for her brother, John Cameron of Glendessary, who had been disabled since childhood. In 1745, the Cameron’s of Glendessary followed the clan chief, Donald Cameron of Lochiel; the exact role Jean Cameron played during the rising cannot be completely established. As a tacksman, she had the duty of raising the men of Morvern; she probably led them to her cousin, Alexander Cameron of Dungallon, in Sunart, before the men joined Lochiel’s troop. Jean was seen leading the Cameron’s of Sunart to the Raising of the Clans at Glenfinnan on 19 August 1745, and then within Jacobite circles of sociability in Edinburgh when the prince held court.
“Having collected a troop of two hundred and fifty men, she marched at the head of it to the camp at Glenfinnin. She was dressed in a sea-green riding-habit, with a scarlet lappet, laced with gold; her hair was tied behind in loose curls, and surmounted with a velvet cap, and a scarlet feather. She rode a bay gelding, with green furniture, richly trimmed with gold; in her hand she carried a naked sword instead of a riding-whip. Her countenance is described as being agreeable, and her figure handsome; her eyes were fine, and her hair dark. The Prince, it is said, rode out of the lines to receive her, and to welcome the addition to his army, and conducted her to a tent with much ceremony.”
On February 3rd, 1746 when the Prince’s forces fled, the wounded were left behind and taken prisoner by the Duke of Cumberland, Jean Cameron was among them. Cumberland wrote to the Duke of Newcastle that he had captured “the famous Jenny Cameron” and sent her to Edinburgh. She was released on bail on 15 November 1746.On 27 June 1772, Jean died at her home Mount Cameron on Blacklaw Hill in East Kilbride. As might be expected, there is a discrepancy between the real women and their English representation in Hanoverian propaganda, the most distorted being Jean Cameron, familiarly nicknamed Jenny Cameron. She was also the most written about during the rebellion in songs, memoirs, press articles, prints and even a pantomime. [x] [x]