Editing Rob Roy MacGregor (section)

==Jacobite risings==
Along with many [[Scottish clan|Highland clansmen]], at the age of eighteen Rob Roy MacGregor together with his father joined the [[Jacobite rising of 1689]] led by [[John Graham, 1st Viscount Dundee]], and [[Ewan Cameron of Lochiel|Sir Ewen Cameron of Lochiel]], to support the [[House of Stuart|Stuart]] [[James VII of Scotland|King James VII]], whose flight from Britain following the [[Glorious Revolution]] of 1688 had been declared by the English [[Convention Parliament (1689)|Convention Parliament]] to be an abdication, then [[Glorious Revolution in Scotland|in Scotland]] the [[Convention of Estates (1689)|Convention of Estates]] adopted the [[Claim of Right 1689|Claim of Right]] and declared that James had forfeited the Scottish throne. Although victorious in initial battles, Dundee was killed at the [[Battle of Killiecrankie]] in 1689, deflating the rising which then lost the [[Battle of Dunkeld]]. MacGregor's father was taken to jail, where he was held on [[high treason]] charges for two years. MacGregor's mother Margaret's health failed during Donald's time in prison. By the time Donald was finally released, his wife was dead.

Like many other [[Scottish clan chief]]s during the 17th and 18th centuries, MacGregor operated an extralegal [[Protection racket|Watch]] over the cattle herds of the [[Scottish peerage|Lowland gentry]] in return for [[blackmail|black mail]] (protection money), which was used to feed the families of his tenants and clansmen. Any cattle that were stolen from herds under his Watch were either retrieved or paid for in full.<ref>W. H. Murray (1982), ''Rob Roy MacGregor: His Life and Times'', [[Barnes & Noble Books]]. pp. 59–64.</ref>

MacGregor became a respected cattleman—this was a time when [[cattle raiding]] and protection rackets, selling protection against theft, were commonplace means of earning a living.<ref name="Walker">Carol Kyros Walker (1997). ''Recollections of a Tour Made in Scotland by Dorothy Wordsworth''. Yale University Press. See Appendix 5.</ref> MacGregor borrowed a large sum to increase his own cattle herd, but owing to the disappearance of his chief herder, who was entrusted with the money, MacGregor defaulted on his loan.

[[File:Factor's Island, Loch Katrine - geograph.org.uk - 571064.jpg|thumb|[[Factor's Island]] (Gaelic: {{lang|gd|Eilean a' Bhàillidh}}), [[Loch Katrine]], where Rob Roy once imprisoned the [[James Graham, 1st Duke of Montrose|Duke's]] [[Factor (Scotland)|factor]].]]
His principal creditor, [[James Graham, 1st Duke of Montrose]], then seized his lands. In a letter later circulated on his behalf and widely believed at the time, MacGregor alleged that Montrose had twice offered to forgive his debts in return for [[perjury|perjured]] testimony that would help to [[frameup|frame]] the [[John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll|Duke of Argyll]] for both [[high treason in the United Kingdom|high treason]] and [[Jacobitism]]. MacGregor further claimed that when he indignantly refused, he was branded an [[outlaw]], and his wife and family were evicted from their house at [[Inversnaid]], which was then burned down. MacGregor also claimed that [[John Murray, 1st Duke of Atholl]] offered him a full pardon under the same terms, which he also indignantly refused. In retaliation, MacGregor waged a private blood feud against Montrose, both raiding his cattle and robbing his rents. 

Another version states that MacGregor's estates of Craigrostan and Ardess were forfeited for his part in the [[Jacobite rising of 1715]]. The Duke of Montrose then acquired the property in 1720 by open purchase from the Commissioners of Enquiry.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Scots Peerage, Vol 6 |year=1909 |publisher=David Douglas |location=Edinburgh |pages=273 |editor=Sir James Balfour Paul, LLD}}</ref>