Let's see what Bruce Lenman says about him (a consistently snarky historian, you should see him snark on the topic of Simon Fraser, Lord Lovat--it's epic).
Mar had been a very active champion of the Act of Union. After raising the standard of rebellion he had to try to talk this episode away but it was in fact typical, for Mar was a government man through and through. He loved office, revelled in the deference which a minister of the King could extract from his contemporaries, and appreciated the salary. Political principles were never Mar's strong suit. (from "The Jacobite Risings in Britain 1689-1746")
It goes on to describe how he was one of those Tories brought down when Queen Anne died. I enjoy this sort of snark, but at the same time wonder how the author feels able to judge people's character like that! I mean, maybe he had read lots of the guy's letters or something, but...
Re: Earl of Mar
Mar had been a very active champion of the Act of Union. After raising the standard of rebellion he had to try to talk this episode away but it was in fact typical, for Mar was a government man through and through. He loved office, revelled in the deference which a minister of the King could extract from his contemporaries, and appreciated the salary. Political principles were never Mar's strong suit. (from "The Jacobite Risings in Britain 1689-1746")
It goes on to describe how he was one of those Tories brought down when Queen Anne died. I enjoy this sort of snark, but at the same time wonder how the author feels able to judge people's character like that! I mean, maybe he had read lots of the guy's letters or something, but...