KidZone History of Scotland
Flora MacDonald
Flora MacDonald lived in the Scottish islands in the 1700’s. When Bonnie Prince Charlie and his supporters failed in their efforts to defeat the English forces during the second Jacobite rebellion, Flora took pity on the defeated prince and decided to help him escape!
She dressed Bonnie Prince Charlie in her maid’s clothes and rowed him across the water to the Isle of Skye where he was able to catch a ship and flee to France.
Unfortunately for the brave, young Flora the English discovered what she’d done, captured her and locked her in the Tower of London. She wasn’t imprisoned there for too long and was released after she promised not to work against English interests again.
Flora and her husband emigrated to America. Unfortunately for Flora, she arrived right before the American revolution against England.
True to her word, Flora refused to work against England interests siding with them instead of the American colonists.
Flora was a brave woman but she had no luck when it came to revolutions!
After the English forces were defeated Flora and her husband returned to Scotland where they lived out their remaining days in peace.
There is a statue honouring Flora near Inverness Castle in Scotland.
The "Flora MacDonald's Fancy" is a Scottish highland dance choreographed in her honour, supposedly based on a dance she performed for Bonnie Prince Charlie.
Printables:
Other links you might enjoy:
- Skye Boat Song by Robert Louis Stevenson
- Scotland Coloring Pages - includes a number of maps
- DLTK's Scotland activities for kids (crafts, coloring, and more)