1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:01,960 Speaker 1: This Day in History Class is a production of I 2 00:00:02,040 --> 00:00:07,680 Speaker 1: Heart Radio. Hello and welcome to This Day in History Class, 3 00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:10,879 Speaker 1: a show that flips through the pages of history to 4 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:15,480 Speaker 1: deliver old news in a new way. I'm Gabe Louzier 5 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:20,079 Speaker 1: and today we're exploring the life and times of Rob Roy, 6 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:23,760 Speaker 1: a real life Scottish bandit who became one of the 7 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:36,480 Speaker 1: world's most enduring literary legends. The day was December seventeen 8 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:42,960 Speaker 1: thirty four. Rob Roy MacGregor, a Scottish bandit turned folk hero, 9 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:47,839 Speaker 1: died at his home in the village of Balwinder. He 10 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:52,800 Speaker 1: was many things throughout his life, including a soldier, a businessman, 11 00:00:53,159 --> 00:00:58,960 Speaker 1: a cattle rustler, and an extortionist. Today, he's best remembered 12 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 1: as a daring, romantic hero, kind of like the Robin 13 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:07,240 Speaker 1: Hood of Scotland. That perception is largely due to the 14 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:12,440 Speaker 1: many fictionalized novels, plays, comic books, and movies that have 15 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:17,000 Speaker 1: been made about him since his death. However, Rob Roy 16 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:22,319 Speaker 1: actually became a legend within his own lifetime. Eleven years 17 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 1: before his death, the first written account of his life 18 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 1: was published, a fictionalized biography by Daniel Defoe titled Highland Rogue. 19 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:38,039 Speaker 1: The book changed rob Roy's life and ensured that history 20 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 1: would remember him as far more than a violent bandit. 21 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:47,160 Speaker 1: Robert MacGregor was born in early sixteen seventy one at 22 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:50,680 Speaker 1: Glen Gile, at the head of Loch Katrine in the 23 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:54,720 Speaker 1: southern Highlands of Scotland. He was the third son of 24 00:01:54,840 --> 00:02:00,440 Speaker 1: Donald McGregor, a landholder and chieftain of Clan MacGregor. Rob 25 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:05,120 Speaker 1: inherited red hair from his mother, Margaret Campbell. This trait 26 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:11,320 Speaker 1: later inspired his nickname Raybert Rued, which means Robert the 27 00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:15,800 Speaker 1: Red in Gaelic. The reference to his red hair was 28 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 1: later lost in translation when rob Ruda was anglicized into 29 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:28,120 Speaker 1: rob Roy. The McGregor's were Jacobites, a predominantly Catholic group 30 00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:32,120 Speaker 1: that supported the exiled King of Scotland, James the Seven, 31 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:37,840 Speaker 1: and opposed his Protestant usurper King William the Third. In 32 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:43,080 Speaker 1: sixty nine, a Scottish Convention of Parliament recognized William the 33 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:47,519 Speaker 1: Third and his wife Mary as the joint Monarchs of Scotland. 34 00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:53,480 Speaker 1: The result was an immediate uprising among the Jacobites, culminating 35 00:02:53,560 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 1: in the Battle of Killie Cranky in late July of 36 00:02:57,120 --> 00:03:01,560 Speaker 1: that year. The Jacobites one a day, but their leader, 37 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 1: Viscount Dundee, was among the casualties. Without his leadership, the 38 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:12,400 Speaker 1: Jacobite uprising fell apart fast. Rob Roy and his father 39 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:16,960 Speaker 1: both fought in the rebellion, alongside the rest of Clan MacGregor. 40 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:21,519 Speaker 1: As a result, when the Jacobites were defeated, the MacGregor 41 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 1: name was banned by law. Discouraged by the loss, Rob 42 00:03:26,760 --> 00:03:31,200 Speaker 1: gave up on politics and warfare. He adopted his mother's 43 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:34,840 Speaker 1: maiden name of Campbell and married his cousin Mary in 44 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:40,280 Speaker 1: January of sixteen ninety three. The former soldier settled into 45 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:44,160 Speaker 1: domestic life. He started a business driving cattle to the 46 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 1: market town of Crief, on the border between the Scottish 47 00:03:47,480 --> 00:03:52,320 Speaker 1: Highlands and Lowlands. The business succeeded thanks in large part 48 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:56,000 Speaker 1: to the financial backing of the Duke of Montrose, a 49 00:03:56,120 --> 00:04:01,640 Speaker 1: wealthy landowner who invested heavily in Roy's business. Sadly, all 50 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:06,080 Speaker 1: that good fortune went to ruin in seventeen eleven. Late 51 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:09,640 Speaker 1: that year, Rob borrowed money from the Duke to pay 52 00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:13,160 Speaker 1: for cattle for the next year's market. Rob made the 53 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:17,120 Speaker 1: purchase and then sent his head drover or cattle driver 54 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 1: to pick up the order. However, the employee never returned. 55 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:25,679 Speaker 1: After picking up the cattle, he sold them to someone 56 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:30,320 Speaker 1: else and then disappeared with the money. Despite his best efforts, 57 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:34,120 Speaker 1: rob failed to track down the thief. He pledged to 58 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:37,640 Speaker 1: repay the loan himself in time, but the Duke of 59 00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:42,640 Speaker 1: Montrose wasn't having it. The powerful Duke declared Robin outlaw. 60 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:46,600 Speaker 1: He then seized all of his lands and even evicted 61 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:49,320 Speaker 1: his wife and four sons in the dead of winter. 62 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:53,680 Speaker 1: Now on the run is a wanted man, rob Roy 63 00:04:53,839 --> 00:04:58,320 Speaker 1: set his sights on revenge. He launched an ongoing campaign 64 00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:02,440 Speaker 1: against the Duke of Montrose, stealing his cattle and robbing 65 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:07,159 Speaker 1: his employees every chance he got. Over time, rob began 66 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:12,040 Speaker 1: targeting other wealthy landowners as well. He extorted money and 67 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:16,919 Speaker 1: property from them in exchange for protection against other cattle rustlers, 68 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:20,480 Speaker 1: and if a farmer refused to pay up, then he 69 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:25,400 Speaker 1: just stole their animals himself. The feud went on for years, 70 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:29,920 Speaker 1: partly because Rob's efforts were aided by the Duke's enemies, 71 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:35,719 Speaker 1: and partly because the public's admiration emboldened Rob Roy. He 72 00:05:35,839 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 1: frequently shared his ill gotten loot with the poor, especially 73 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:42,560 Speaker 1: those who had been mistreated by the Duke as he 74 00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:45,960 Speaker 1: had been. This earned him a reputation as a champion 75 00:05:45,960 --> 00:05:51,720 Speaker 1: of the people. In seventeen fifteen, another Jacobite rebellion broke out, 76 00:05:52,080 --> 00:05:55,320 Speaker 1: but this time Rob didn't join the fight. In fact, 77 00:05:55,560 --> 00:05:59,920 Speaker 1: he plundered both sides, and when the rebellion was defeated again, 78 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:04,320 Speaker 1: he just went right back to robbing Montrose. The revenge 79 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 1: campaign continued for another seven years. It finally came to 80 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:13,080 Speaker 1: an end in seventeen twenty two, when a different duke 81 00:06:13,360 --> 00:06:19,279 Speaker 1: helped arranger reconciliation between Rob and Montrose. However, even though 82 00:06:19,320 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 1: he and the Duke mended fences, Rob was later arrested 83 00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 1: for his crimes and sent to Newgate Prison in London. 84 00:06:27,279 --> 00:06:30,719 Speaker 1: He spent the next four years behind bars. While in 85 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:34,839 Speaker 1: the outside world, his legendary status began to take shape. 86 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:40,080 Speaker 1: With the release of Daniel Defoe's book Highland Rogue, Rob's 87 00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:44,719 Speaker 1: popularity with the public reached an all time high. Finally, 88 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:48,560 Speaker 1: in seventeen twenty seven, King George the First of Great 89 00:06:48,560 --> 00:06:52,120 Speaker 1: Britain was persuaded by the public to part in Rob 90 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:57,000 Speaker 1: for his many crimes. The reprieve came through just in time, 91 00:06:57,279 --> 00:07:00,080 Speaker 1: as the outlaw was just about to be transport it 92 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:04,800 Speaker 1: to a penal colony in Barbados. Instead, the fifty six 93 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:08,080 Speaker 1: year old outlaw was released and allowed to spend the 94 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:12,000 Speaker 1: remaining years of his life and the peaceful village of Balwadre. 95 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:17,960 Speaker 1: He died there seven years later on December seventeen thirty four. 96 00:07:18,840 --> 00:07:21,800 Speaker 1: He was buried on New Year's Day and was survived 97 00:07:21,880 --> 00:07:26,280 Speaker 1: by his four sons. His grave still stands, and in 98 00:07:26,320 --> 00:07:30,080 Speaker 1: the twentieth century an inscription was added to the stone 99 00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:35,080 Speaker 1: in tribute to his defiance. It reads quote mac gregor. 100 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 1: Despite them, the legend of Rob Roy has only grown 101 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:44,360 Speaker 1: since his death. His exploits, both real and imagined, have 102 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:48,360 Speaker 1: been the subject of countless adaptations for the page and screen. 103 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:53,200 Speaker 1: Outside of stories, fans can visit Scotland and toward the 104 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 1: real life locations that featured in Rob Roy's life. Many 105 00:07:57,480 --> 00:08:00,560 Speaker 1: of these sites are even linked by a law distance 106 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:05,640 Speaker 1: trail called the Rob Roy Way. There's even a famous 107 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:09,440 Speaker 1: cocktail named after him. It's said to have originated at 108 00:08:09,440 --> 00:08:14,560 Speaker 1: the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York City. In a 109 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:18,600 Speaker 1: Broadway production of an operetta based on Rob Roy's life 110 00:08:18,760 --> 00:08:21,680 Speaker 1: premiered at a theater down the street from the hotel. 111 00:08:22,520 --> 00:08:25,320 Speaker 1: At the time, it was common practice for the hotel 112 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:29,640 Speaker 1: bar to name drinks after current Broadway shows. The rob 113 00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:33,360 Speaker 1: Roy was a simple spin on a much more popular drink, 114 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:39,199 Speaker 1: the Manhattan. The only difference a Manhattan uses American whiskey, 115 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:43,480 Speaker 1: while a rob Roy is made with you guessed at Scotch. 116 00:08:45,640 --> 00:08:49,200 Speaker 1: I'm Gaye Loouisier and hopefully you now know a little 117 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:53,360 Speaker 1: more about history today than you did yesterday. You can 118 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:57,319 Speaker 1: learn even more about history by following us on Twitter, Facebook, 119 00:08:57,440 --> 00:09:01,640 Speaker 1: and Instagram at t d i AHC show, and if 120 00:09:01,640 --> 00:09:04,800 Speaker 1: you have any comments or suggestions, feel free to send 121 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:07,960 Speaker 1: them my way at this Day at I heart media 122 00:09:08,200 --> 00:09:12,000 Speaker 1: dot com. Thanks to Chandler May's for producing the show, 123 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:14,880 Speaker 1: and thank you for listening. I'll see you back here 124 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:28,320 Speaker 1: again tomorrow for another day in History class. For more 125 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:30,880 Speaker 1: podcasts from I Heart Radio, visit the iHeart Radio app, 126 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:33,520 Speaker 1: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.