Siege of Carlisle (December 1745)

The second siege of Carlisle in 1745 took place from 21 to 30 December during the Jacobite rising of that year, when a Jacobite garrison surrendered to government forces led by the Duke of Cumberland. The town had been captured the previous month in the first siege of 1745 by the Jacobite army that invaded England in November 1745 and reached as far south as Derby, before turning back on 6 December. They re-entered Carlisle on 19 December, and after leaving a garrison of 400 men, the main army continued its retreat into Scotland the next day. Advance elements of the government army reached Carlisle on 21 December, but siege operations were delayed until their heavy artillery arrived six days later. They commenced firing on 28 December, and the Jacobites surrendered on 30th; 384 prisoners were taken, some of whom were later executed and others transported to the West Indies.