Battle of Prestonpans

The Battle of Prestonpans, fought on 21 September 1745, was a significant engagement during the Jacobite Rising of 1745, led by Charles Edward Stuart, commonly known as "Bonnie Prince Charlie." Near the town of Prestonpans, East Lothian, Scotland, the Jacobite forces faced a government army commanded by Sir John Cope. Utilizing the element of surprise and the terrain, the Jacobites executed a swift flank attack at dawn, resulting in a decisive victory that lasted mere minutes. The battle boosted the morale and reputation of the Jacobite army, propelling them further into their campaign to restore the Stuart monarchy to the British throne, but it was a high point before the eventual decline of their efforts the following year.