The Jacobite Rebellion of 1715 is seen as being the Jacobites closest chance of succeeding. On the 6th of September 1715, the standard was raised in support for King James the 8th at Braemar. The leader at the ime was the Earl of Mar, or Bobbin' John. Mar wasent much of a military leader and was highly indecisive. One of his biggest mistakes was staying too long at Perth instead of taking Stirling when his forces greatly outnumbered the Government forces. One of the main battles of the time, on the 13th November was Sheriffmuir, where it is said that neither side won the battle, although each side protested their victory on that day.

On the 22nd of December, James arrived in Scotland and joined with the Jacobite forces. Mar and the remaining Jacobites had been expecting a large French force to arrive with James, instead James joined the Jacobites with only three men. On the 17th of January 1716 James gave the orders for his Jacobites to lay waste and loot the land between Stirling and Perth. This action saw the death of many Scottish people living in the area.

The end of the 1715 Rebellion was on the 31st of January 1716 when the Jacobites decided not to engage in a battle with Argyll's reinforced army, which was making its way towards the Jacobite army at Perth. The Jacobites decided to withdraw and James and Mar set sail for France, leaving the Jacobites with no leader. When the Jacobites reached Ruthven Castle in Badenoch, they decided to go their seperate ways, this saw the last hopes of success slip away.