Other 18th-/19th-century conflicts
Maps, views and documents from 19 wars
Battle of Prestonpans, 1745
Plan of the Battle at Preston 21.st Septem.r 1745. By an Officer of the Army Who was present
published 21 Dec 1745Etching and engraving; printed on paper | Scale: not stated. 1:8,000 approx. | RCIN 729156
A map of the Battle of Prestonpans, fought on 21 September 1746 between the Jacobite army, commanded by Prince Charles Edward Stuart (1720-88), and the British army, commanded by General Sir John Cope (1690-1760), resulting in a Jacobite victory. Jacobite Rebellion (1745-6). Oriented with south to top (cardinal points).
The identity of the engineer on whose map this published map is based is unknown. There are too many differences for it to have been based on Elphinstone's map at RCIN 729154. There is no reference to the slaughter of British troops in the grounds of Preston House park; the route of the Dragoons through Prestonpans and ‘Little Village’ is shown as are the various stages of the Rebels' march and the different positions of the ‘King's Army’. There are also several differences between this map and Hawkins's map at RCIN 729155.
The Battle of Prestonpans was the first engagement between the Jacobite, or Rebel army led by Prince Charles Edward Stuart, and the British army led by Sir John Cope.
Christopher Seton (active 1726-68) (publisher) [bottom centre, below border:] Publish'd according to Act of Parliament Dec.r 21.st 1745 to be had at Christopher Seton Engraver in Ordinary to his Majesty at the Golden Head in Suffolk Street Charing Cross.
Watermark: Countermark: IV
Condition: one fold line; trimmed; a small tear at top and bottom of fold and top left edge; surface dirt along top of recto. Verso: brown discolouration
Scale: not stated. 1:8,000 approx.
54.8 x 69.7 cm (image)
[top and bottom trimmed] x 70.8 cm (platemark)
53.3 x 69.2 cm (neatline)
55.1 x 74.4 cm (sheet)
Printed title:
Plan of the Battle at Preston 21.st Septem.r 1745. By an Officer of the Army Who was present. [top, outside border]
Additional text:
[bottom left, in rococo cartouche, a key, A-I, K, 1-5, to the positions, etc., of both armies.] [Bottom right, in rococo cartouche, a short account of the actions on 20-21 September.]
Annotations:
George III heading: Battle of Preston Pans 21 Sept.r 1745.
Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [bottom right, black pencil:] a [+] g.
George III catalogue entry:
Preston Pans Plan of the Battle at Preston Pans, 21 Sept.r 1745: published by Seton, 1745.
Subject(s)
Prestonpans, East Lothian, Scotland, UK (55°57'33"N 02°58'49"W)
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
