James (Graham), 5th Earl and 1st Marquis of Montrose (1612-1650), was the greatest military genius of seventeenth Century Scotland. Probably trained at Angers in 1633-34, he was an opponent of King Charles' "Anglicanizing" religious policy. As a keen partisan of the National Covenant of February, 1638, he was appointed to lead a Covenanting army into Aberdeenshire, which he did with great success. However, this encouraged the Covenanters, led by 8th Earl of Argyll, to oppose the Royal Prerogative, which Montrose could not accept. A process of separation began, which was completed in 1643 by Montrose's denunciation of the Solemn League and Covenant of that year and his rallying to the Royal cause at York. 1644 saw him created Marquis, appointed Lieutenant-General and campaigning in both countries with victories, albeit of ephemeral importance, at Tippermuir (Tibbermore) and Aberdeen, which his troops sacked. Finding limited local support, he retired into the hills, from whence he attacked Lord Argyll's lands through routes regarded as closed in winter, before retreating up the Great Glen. In 1645, a series of victories allowed an advance into the Lowlands, where desertions prevented him from invading England. Surprised and defeated at Philiphaugh in September, he escaped and tried to raise the Highlands again but had to disband his army by Royal command in July, 1646.
Escaping to the Continent, he worked there for the Royalist cause but eventually, in 1648, took service with the Austrian Habsburgs and was appointed a Field-Marshal of the Holy Roman Empire. After the execution of Charles I, Charles II renewed his commission in March, 1649, and in March 1650, he landed in Caithness in a poorly-supported attempt to revive the Royal cause. His tiny force was ambushed and defeated at Corbiesdale in April, 1650. He was arrested shortly afterwards, tried and hanged, drawn and quartered on 21st May 1650.
His sister married Archibald 1st Lord Napier, whose maternal uncle was Sir Archibald Stirling of Keir (died 1630). Sir Archibald's grandson, Sir George, suffered imprisonment with Lord Montrose in 1641. Sir George married secondly his second cousin Margaret, daughter of 1st Lord Napier.
J.D. Mackie, in his History of Scotland, says grudgingly, "it is impossible to deny him military ability of a high order and a personality which could win the hearts of the Highlanders." Rev. Richard Lassels S.J. described Montrose more generously as "a man whose gallant actions stand in the light of the famousest Generall of our dayes,..." (Description of Italy, 1654, pp.66-67)