What is it?

This is a complete tartan outfit consisting of trews (trousers), a jacket and a plaid. The material and colours used to create this large, chequered ensemble would have made this an expensive suit.

Who wore it? Oval miniature in enamel of Sir John Hynde Cotton, 4th Baronet/H.NT 257 National Museums Scotland Creative Commons CC-BY-NC>

It belonged to Sir John Hynde Cotton, a Tory Member of Parliament – and an English Jacobite.

Why is it important?

As well as being a tartan outfit belonging to an English Jacobite, this suit in common with Margaret of Oliphant’s dress has also been associated with celebrations at the Palace of Holyroodhouse after the battle of Prestonpans in 1745.

As we learned in step 3.8, Charles ordered that there be no public rejoicing or celebration of Prestonpans and this may be another myth about this particular piece of clothing.

In this short film, Curator Lyndsey McGill explains the significance of this outfit, in the context of reprisals after the 1745 Jacobite uprising.