Marquis of Argyll’s Lifeguard of Foot
| Active | 1644 to 1645 |
| Country | Scotland |
| Allegiance | Covenanter |
| Conflicts | First Civil War |
| Type | Foot |
| Captain | Marquis of Argyll |
| Provost of Kilmund | |
| Archibald Campbell of Lerags | |
| Area Raised | Argyll |
| Coat Colour | Highland Dress |
| Flag Colour | |
| Flag Design | |
| Field Armies | Argyll 1644 |
The Marquis of Argyll’s bodyguard firelock company of Scots Covenanter Highlanders
Service History
1644
- January: Raised in Argyll
- January to April: Serving with Argyll in England
- May to October: Serving with Argyll in Scotland?
- October: Battle of Fyvie??
1645
- February: Battle of Inverlochy??
Notes
A history of the unit is shown in Edward M. Furgol’s A Regimental History of the Covenanting Armies 1639-1651 Edinburgh, 1990. ISBN 0 85976 194 0
Raised for Argyll in January 1644, his lifeguard company likely served on Argyll’s brief campaign in England and perhaps later in the year in Scotland. If so they were probably present at Fyvie and Inverlochy. Unfortunately no clear references to them have yet been found after the unit was raised.
Coats, Flags & Equipment
Clothed in Highland dress, the company was equipped with swords, targes and firelock muskets.
Notable Officers
Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquis of Argyll
Argyll (also spelt Argyle) (circa 1607-1661) was Chief of Clan Campbell and most prominent leader of the Scots Covenanters. In effect he ruled Scotland during the Civil Wars. Biographies can be found online at the BCW website, Wikipedia and the Peerage.com. In 1639 he seized Hamilton's castle at Broddick. He led Covenanter forces in a raid on the Highlands during the Second Bishops' War of 1640, capturing Airlie and Dumbarton Castles. In 1644 he accompanied the Covenanter invasion of England but soon returned to Scotland, in May he took Aberdeen from Huntly's Royalists, then captured Kellie Castle. He led the Covenanters at the Battle of Fyvie and besieged Huntly Castle in winter 1644. In 1645 he was present at Inverlochy, but not a participant in the battle due to a dislocated shoulder and fled the scene in his galley on Lake Linhe. He was also present at Kilsyth. In 1648 he opposed the Engagers and later supported the Whiggamore rising, but in 1651 helped strike the deal that saw Charles II lead another Scottish army into England. In 1653 he opposed Glencairn's rising. Convicted of treason after the Restoration, he was beheaded in May 1661, his head being affixed to the same spike that had held Montrose's eleven years before.
Provost of Kilmund
Led the company in the field
Archibald Campbell of Lerags
Led the company in the field
Strength
- One company of 60 men planned to be raised
