General William Baillie (–1653) was a Scottish professional soldier who fought for the Dutch and later commanded a regiment under Gustavus Adolphus in Sweden.

Early life

Baillie was the illegitimate son of Sir William Baillie of Lamington in Lanarkshire and of a "Mrs. Home", a daughter of Alexander Home of North Berwick, Provost of Edinburgh. At the time of Baillie's birth, his father was married to Margaret Maxwell, Countess of Angus, the widow of Archibald Douglas, 6th Count of Angus. After the Countess of Angus's death, Baillie's father married Mrs. Home in an unsuccessful attempt to legitimize Baillie's birth.

In 1644, Baillie marched into England with the Army of the Covenant. He commanded part of the Scottish infantry at the Battle of Marston Moor, overall command of which fell to Alexander Leslie. In 1645, he commanded the detachment sent from Alexander Leslie, 1st Earl of Leven's army against James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose. On his arrival in Scotland, Baillie successfully manoeuvred to prevent Montrose from marching south. In April, he almost caught up with Montrose at Dundee but Montrose succeeded in escaping into the Highlands. Baillie then split his forces, planning to trap Montrose between his own troops and a detachment commanded by Sir John Hurry. However, Montrose decisively defeated Hurry at the Battle of Auldearn in May 1645; two months later he defeated Baillie himself at the Battle of Alford. After this defeat, Baillie tendered his resignation. This was rejected by the Covenanter leaders. Instead a new army was raised. Baillie retained command but was now accompanied by a Committee of War headed by the Earl of Argyll. Against Baillie's advice, a battle with Montrose was forced at the Battle of Kilsyth. Once again, he was defeated - his final involvement against Montrose who was in turn defeated at the Battle of Philiphaugh on 13 September.

During the Second Civil War, Baillie commanded the infantry in the Duke of Hamilton's ill-fated Engager invasion of England. The Engagers were defeated by Oliver Cromwell at the Battle of Preston in August 1648. While Hamilton escaped, Baillie was ordered to surrender with his infantry.

<!-- However, in June 1630 that regiment was merged with John Meldrum's [SSNE 572] regiment, and apparently James Spens [SSNE 1642] and Alexander Hamilton chose a captain from Hamilton's regiment to become the new colonel (presumably Colonel John Hamilton[SSNE]?), whereby Baillie lost his position. Keen to continue in Swedish service he requested Axel Oxenstierna's help in obtaining Gustav II Adolf's permission to recruit a German regiment, giving the reasons that "he knew the language well and had lived in the Netherlands for a time". Oxenstierna himself supported this request wholeheartedly, noting that Baillie was "of the Scottish nation he hasn't found any officer with more discretion, purpose and seriousness and discipline". The Chancellor also notes that Baillie only recently came into Swedish service and had not had the chance to prove himself on the field to Gustav II Adolf. However, Baillie was an experienced officer which may imply that he had been in Dutch service before. He then became colonel of his own regiment for the next three years in Swedish service. Oxenstierna was engaged in setting up Baillie's regiment from January through to October 1631. Baillie also served as an envoy from Oxenstierna to Samuel Nadolsky, "starost" of Dirschau in October 1630. A muster roll exists for Baillie's regiment in Prussia from February 1632, amongst which Captain Andrew Spang's [SSNE 3546] company was noted. Chancellor Oxenstierna specifically ordered Baillie's regiment to march from Prussia to Schlesien/Silesia in March 1633. He returned to Scotland in 1638 to serve under Leslie with the Covenanters. Baillie was at Duns Law in 1639, and at Marston Moor in 1644. He commanded a force against Montrose and lost in 1645. In 1648 he was lieutenant general of infantry under James, Duke of Hamilton at Preston. -->

Later life and death

Baillie died in 1653.

References

  • Letters and Journals (3 vol. set) Publisher: Ams Pr Inc (March 2005)
  • https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryMagazine/DestinationsUK/The-Battle-of-Alford/
  • https://books.google.com/books?id=2L-AAgAAQBAJ&dq=william+baillie+scottish+soldier&pg=PA166
  • https://books.google.com/books?id=UkkMAQAAMAAJ&dq=william+baillie+scottish+soldier&pg=RA1-PA455
  • http://www.battlefieldsofbritain.co.uk/battle_alford_1645.html
  • http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/BTL13