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Jacobitism

Catherine's husband, Henry, had fought for the Jacobites against the English crown in the 1745 uprising and Catherine herself supported this movement. Jacobitism was a political and cultural movement in Great Britain and Ireland which sought to restore the Stuart King James II and later, his successors, to the throne after the dynasty had been deposed by the Hanoverians.

Descent from Robert the Bruce

Lady Catherine was known for her eccentricity and had many eclectic visitors at Clackmannan Tower. In 1787 she was visited by Robert Burns, a famous and celebrated Scottish poet and knighted him with a family sword said to have once belonged to Robert the Bruce who had been King of Scotland (1306-1329) from whom her and her husband both claimed descent. She is believed to have said during the ceremony that she 'had a better right to confer that title [knighthood] than some people' implying that the current Hanoverian monarchs were illegitimate. She knighted other select guests across the years with the same sword including Dr. Jamieson who was editor of the Scots Dictionary. On her death, the sword passed to the Earl of Elgin and in 2018 will go on public display for the first time courtesy of the Broomhall Estate.

Death and Legacy:

Her life's story was included in the Walking Theatre Company 's production of Tales of Clackmannan which celebrated the history of Clackmannanshire.

She has a Scottish country dancing reel named after her called Lady Catherine Bruce's Reel.