John Graham, 1st Viscount of Dundee

Short Biography

John Graham of Claverhouse, 7th Laird of Claverhouse (later 1st Viscount Dundee) (c. 21 July 1648 - 27 July 1689) was a Scottish soldier and nobleman, a Tory and an Episcopalian. Claverhouse is remembered as a persecutor of the Covenanters, when he was responsible for policing south-west Scotland during and after the religious unrest and rebellion of the 1670s and 80s, led to Presbyterian historians dubbing him "Bluidy Clavers". However, Claverhouse recommended lenient treatment of the Covenanters and married into a prominent Covenanter family. Later, as a general in the Scottish army, Claverhouse remained loyal to King James VII of Scotland (King James II of England) after the so-called Glorious Revolution of 1688. He rallied the loyal Highland clans and, although he lost his life in the battle, led them to victory at Killiecrankie. This first Jacobite rising was unsuccessful, but Claverhouse became a Jacobite hero, acquiring his second soubriquet "Bonnie Dundee".