Sir Robert Munro, 6th Baronet

Sir Robert Munro, 6th Baronet (24 August 1684 – 17 January 1746) was a Scottish military officer and politician whose life followed an 18th-century pattern. He fought in support of the Revolution Settlement and the House of Hanover, and their opposition to all attempts by the Jacobites to restore the House of Stuart either by force of arms or by political intrigue. He was killed at the Battle of Falkirk Muir in 1746.

Early life and career

He was a child when James VII and II lost his throne and the Protestant succession of James's daughter Mary II and son-in-law William III was secured. He was a young man when the involvement of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland, in personal union under Queen Anne, sent many Scots to fight under John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, in the War of the Spanish Succession on Continental Europe.

His paternal grandfather Sir John Munro, 4th Baronet and his father Sir Robert Munro, 5th Baronet, were successively chiefs of the Highland Clan Munro: his uncle Andrew was a captain, and several of his relatives served before him in the Royal Scots. It is not surprising, therefore, that the thoughts of young Robert should turn to an army career, and his earliest surviving letter (Oct. 1706) deals with plans for securing a commission, perhaps through the influence of the John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll who was in Scotland for the critical pre-Acts of Union 1707 debates: even service at home was not to be despised, as it "might draw on a greater thing". Anyhow, the commission was soon forthcoming, although its exact date is unknown, and in March 1710, Robert Munro is on record as a Captain in the Royal Scots (then at the Hague, Holland, Dutch Republic), commanded by George Hamilton, 1st Earl of Orkney. He served for seven years in Flanders, it is said "with great reputation", and found himself out of employment when the war ended in 1712, and the Treaty of Utrecht brought 30 years of peace to Continental Europe. He then returned to Scotland. and after the second his parliamentary career came to an abrupt end with defeat at the 1741 election).

Lieutenant-colonel of the 43rd Highlanders

This probably mattered less to Sir Robert, as he was now securely back in the British Army. The Independent Companies, disbanded after the Jacobite rising, had been revived by General George Wade, and in 1739 the six companies were increased to ten and formed into a regular Highland regiment 780 strong under his command—famous in military history as the 43rd Highlanders, (later re-numbered the 42nd), Royal Highland Regiment, or Black Watch. Their uniform, approved personally by George II of Great Britain when Sir Robert presented a sergeant and private soldier to His Majesty in London in 1740, included a kilt of dark green "military" tartan, belted plaid, and blue bonnet with black cockade. The regiment's first colonel was John Lindsay, 20th Earl of Crawford, who was briefly succeeded by Hugh Sempill, 12th Lord Sempill, but Sir Robert Munro as lieutenant-colonel had the chief responsibility during the formative years.

Among the Captains were his brother George Munro, 1st of Culcairn, Campbell of Carrick, and a cousin John Munro, 4th of Newmore. The surgeon was George Munro, 3rd of Auchinbowie, a distant clansmen. After mustering beside the Tay near Aberfeldy, and continuing the duties of the previous Independent Companies for some time in Northern Scotland, the regiment was ordered to London in 1743, where a serious incident occurred. Believing that they would not be required to serve abroad, and alarmed by rumours that they were to be sent to the American plantations, about 200 men (without their officers) decided to return home and began the long march north. They were overtaken at Oundle, Northamptonshire, where Newmore was one of the officers who disarmed and persuaded them to return. Three of those condemned to death by court-martial were shot, and the remainder transported to the British West Indies: although they blamed the Government, and not their officers, for a breach of faith, it was an unfortunate start to what was to become a remarkable record of service.

Highlanders on display to the King

It is recorded by General Stewart of Garth that King George II of Great Britain having never seen a Highland soldier expressed a desire to see one. Three privates were selected and sent to London under Sir Robert Munro shortly before the 43rd Regiment went to the Continent.

Jacobite rising of 1745–1746

In June 1745, a little more than a month after the battle of Fontenoy, Sir Robert was "rewarded" by an appointment to succeed General Ponsonby (who was killed at Fontenoy) as Colonel of the English 37th (North Hampshire) Regiment of Foot. When the Jacobite rising of 1745 broke out, his friends in the Highlands hoped for his presence among them (one wrote that it would have been "the greatest service to His Majesty and the common cause"), but it was not to be.

Robert's regiment was brought over by sea to Newcastle upon Tyne. Meanwhile, his son Harry Munro and brother George Munro joined Sir John Cope with the able-bodied men of the Clan Munro.

"Munro's 37th Foot" made from English soldiers formed part of the force which operated under George Wade's ineffective command in Northern England. Ordered to Scotland, they reached Edinburgh early in January, in time to march out and form part of the left wing of the force led by Henry Hawley which met the Jacobites in a storm of rain and hail at the Battle of Falkirk Muir.

Legacy

A monument was later erected for Sir Robert Munro in Falkirk churchyard. An entry in the Falkirk Parish Church accounts for October 1750 shows: "Present for the poor from Sir Harry Munro, five guineas, for the privilege of a Tomb upon Sir Robert, my Father, in the Church-yard". With elaborate decoration, and inscriptions in Latin and English language, which were renewed in 1848 and again in 1901, the monument was left in position when neighbouring stones were cleared away a few in years ago. Now, by its latest restoration, it is once more a fitting reminder of the man it commemorates: "Sincere and active in the service of his friends, humane and forgiving to his enemies, generous and benevolent to all, his death was universally regretted even by those who slew him."

Family

Sir Robert Munro, 6th Baronet married Mary, daughter of the Hon. Henry Seymour of Woodlands, Dorset, speaker of the House of Commons. According to historian Alexander Mackenzie they had the following four children: