Henry Smeaton: A Jacobite Story of the Reign of George I

by G. P. R. James

First published 1851

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Set during the early reign of George I and the Jacobite Rising of 1715, Henry Smeaton follows a young man through a Britain still divided by the Stuart succession. Supporters of James Francis Edward Stuart hope to overturn the Hanoverian settlement, while government forces seek to prevent rebellion from spreading across Scotland and England. James makes political allegiance immediate by tying it to friendship, family history and romantic commitment.

The rising exposed how recently the succession had changed and how uncertain the new dynasty initially appeared. Yet Jacobite hopes were weakened by divided leadership, poor coordination and the government’s ability to mobilise loyal forces. The novel uses that imbalance to create a story in which courage cannot guarantee political success. Smeaton’s choices are shaped by the recognition that honour, affection and the cause to which he has committed himself may demand different things.