Excerpts from Books and Wikipedia
"Expelled from the throne of the Protestant 'Glorious Revolution' of 1689, James II and his son James Edward languished in exile in France, their hopes of a restoration kept alive by the backing of high-placed, usually Catholic, supporters--known as Jacobites--in Scotland and England. The accession of the unpopular and Hanoverian George I in 1714, gave them their chance. A rebellion was planned involving English and Scottish Jacobites. . . . Advancing into Catholic Lancashire, Jacobites attracted little support and got trapped in Preston. After a desultory, two-day battle, they surrendered to a superior Hanoverian force. Meanwhile Mar--who's indecisive nature earned him the nickname 'Bobbin' John'--had failed to secure Scotland. After a bloody but indecisive battle at Sherrifmuir on November 13 against an inferior Hanoverian force commanded by the Duke of Argyle, his support melted away. Even the belated arrival of James Edward in December failed to rally the Jacobites. Threatened by an advance on Perth by Argyle and beset by bitter winter weather, James and Mar sailed back to France, leaving their supporters to fend for themselves." [1001 Days]