Appin Murder: The Killing That Shook a Nation

In May 1752, Colin Campbell, a government agent, was assassinated by a gunman on a hillside near Ballachulish in the Scottish Highlands. The killer evaded capture, but Britains rulers insisted on a hanging, resulting in the sacrifice of James Stewart, a veteran of the Highland uprising crushed in April 1746 at Culloden. James was organizing resistance to Campbell's takeover of lands long held by his clan, the Appin Stewarts. Hunter's account of the Appin Murder introduces him to the tragic story.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 01 July 2021
Publisher: Birlinn General

In May 1752, a rider named Colin Campbell was assassinated by a gunman on a hillside near Ballachulish in the Scottish Highlands. Campbell, a government agent, was traveling to nearby Duror to evict farm tenants to make way for his relatives. The killer managed to evade capture, but Britain's rulers insisted on a hanging as a response to this challenge to their authority. The sacrificial victim chosen for this punishment was James Stewart, a veteran of the Highland uprising crushed in April 1746 at Culloden.

Upon arriving in Duror, James witnessed the devastating consequences of Campbell's takeover of lands long held by his clan, the Appin Stewarts. Homes were torched by troops, employing terror tactics against the rebel Highlanders. This same brutal response to dissent left a lasting impact on the community, as James' corpse would hang from a towering gibbet for years, serving as a haunting reminder of the tragic events that unfolded.

In this revised and expanded edition of his account, historian James Hunter delves into the personal connection he had with the story of James Stewart, having grown up in Duror. Hunter's storytelling brings the events of the past to life, providing a deeper understanding of the historical context and the human cost of such conflicts. The Appin Murder remains a significant chapter in Scottish history, and Hunter's book serves as a valuable contribution to our understanding of this tragic period.

Weight: 280g
Dimension: 128 x 198 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781780277202