Flora MacDonald was born in 1722 in Milton on South Uist in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Flora was brought up under the protection of the chief of the clan after Hugh MacDonald of Armadale kidnapped and married her mother. Flora was educated in Edinburgh. In 1746, Flora MacDonald was visiting her brother in Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides when Bonnie Prince Charlie sought safety there after being defeated at the Battle of Culloden. As the MacDonalds supported the Jacobite cause in the rebellion, Flora agreed to help the prince and his companion, Captain O’Neill. She received a pass for the mainland allowing her to take a manservant, a crew of six and an Irish spinning maid named Betty Burke with her. The prince disguised himself as Betty Burke.
At first, the boat containing Flora MacDonald and the prince tried to land at Waternish, Skye, but they did get ashore at Portree. The prince hid in a cave, while Flora MacDonald got help for him in the village. Finally he was able to escape on June 27 to the island of Raasay from where he was able to get a ship bound for France. Before he left he gave Flora a locket containing his portrait telling her that he hoped they would meet again, but they never did. After his escape, suspicion fell on Flora MacDonald for helping him. She was arrested an imprisoned in Dunstaffnage Castle and later in the Tower of London. She was pardoned in 1747 after which she married Allan MacDonald of Kingsburgh in 1750. The MacDonalds emigrated to North Carolina, where Allan experienced success at farming. However, he joined the Royal Highland Emigrants supporting the British in the American Revolution. He was captured and the family was expelled to Nova Scotia.
Flora MacDonald and her husband returned to Scotland in 1779. They lived on the Isle of Skye and she died there in 1790, in the very same bed in which Prince Charlie had slept. It is said that over 3000 people attended her funeral and over 300 gallons of whisky were consumed. The people respected her for her convictions and her bravery.
