 |
|
|
 | | |  |
Law and Order in Enlightenment Edinburgh |
 |
Drum used by Porteous
© Scran |
Perhaps the most notorious and historically important member of the Guard was John Porteous. The son of a tailor, he attained a military training in the "Scotch Dutch", a corps of exiles in the kingdom of Holland. On returning to Scotland he led a meandering life, with something of a brutal reputation towards his spouse.
His reputation as an experienced and capable soldier saw Porteous recruited to the force in 1715 by the Town Council in a special role, charged with getting the Guard into shape for an anticipated heavy rebellion by Jacobite militia. His efforts in making the force a more pro-active and better-drilled outfit were soon rewarded, with overall control as Captain of the Town Guard.
His reign as Captain marked a more professional and effective period for the Guard, with his authoritarian methods appealing to a previously mismanaged band of men. This gradual change made the officers even more unpopular, and this discontent led to the events which immortalised the Guard, as documented by Sir Walter Scott in his book, "The Heart of Midlothian".
Your comments
| |
 Print this page |
|
Archive
Look back into the past using the Legacies' archives. Find nearly 200 tales from around the country in our collection.
Read more > |
| | |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
| The 大象传媒 is not responsible for the content of external Web sites. |
| | | |
| | |
| |
|
