Meet the Historical Figures Behind The Cape Controversy

Miss Nicky Murray was one of the most influential figures in 18th-century Edinburgh society. The daughter of the 6th Viscount of Stormont, Murray later moved to Edinburgh, where she became a directress of the city's Assembly Rooms.

This prestigious role involved hosting dances and social gatherings for Edinburgh’s elite. Being a directress was a great honour, and Murray would have been referred to as a 'Queen' at these events.

A staunch Jacobite supporter, Murray longed to see the Stuarts restored to the throne.

Old Assembly Close, where these dances were held, is just a 2-minute walk from The Real Mary King's Close.

You’ve most likely already heard of the infamous Edinburgh criminal William Brodie, the man who inspired Robert Louis Stevenson’s Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

But for the uninitiated, Deacon William Brodie was a respected cabinetmaker and member of Edinburgh’s Town Council by day, and a notorious burglar by night.

Brodie was a member of the Cape Club and also frequented a tavern on Fleshmarket Close, where he gambled extensively. His extravagant lifestyle came at a cost, and he eventually turned to crime, using his knowledge of Edinburgh’s wealthy residents and his skills as a locksmith to carry out burglaries.

When he was finally caught and sentenced to death, his public hanging reportedly attracted a crowd of 40,000 people.

Alison Cockburn was born at Fairnilee House in the Scottish Borders before moving to Edinburgh, where she lived in the then-new St Andrew Square.

Heavily involved in politics and a prolific writer, Cockburn is best remembered for her version of the Scottish ballad Flowers of the Forest, which commemorates those who died at the Battle of Flodden in 1513, including King James IV.

She was also known for befriending and mentoring younger writers, including Robert Burns, and even recognised the remarkable talent of a 6-year-old Walter Scott.

Much of The Cape Controversy revolves around members of Edinburgh’s infamous Cape Club, a secret society that Tom Lancashire was instrumental in establishing.

Lancashire was the club’s first Sovereign, earning himself the nickname 'Sir Cape'. The club even held its earliest meetings at his inn, The Comedy Hut.

An actor and comedian, Lancashire brought a theatrical flair to the club. Many of its elaborate rituals and eccentric traditions can be attributed to his influence, helping to establish its reputation for 'high jinks'.

Following Tom’s death, fellow Cape Club member and poet Robert Fergusson paid tribute to him with these words:

“Alas, poor Tom! How oft, with heavy heart, have we beheld thee play the Sexton’s part. Each comic heart must now be grieved to see The Sexton’s dreary part perform’d on thee.”

Perhaps the Cape Club’s most famous member was Edinburgh-born poet Robert Fergusson.

After studying at the University of St Andrews, Fergusson returned to Edinburgh, where he embraced a bohemian lifestyle during the Scottish Enlightenment, a period of remarkable intellectual and cultural activity.

He joined the Cape Club in 1772, taking on the title of 'Sir Precentor'.

Tragically, Fergusson’s life was cut short in 1774, following a fall down a flight of stairs. He was just 24 years old.

Susanna Montgomerie, Countess of Eglinton, was no ordinary Scottish aristocrat.

Born into wealth, she married the Earl of Eglinton in 1709 and became a prominent figure in 18th-century Scottish society.

After being widowed, she managed her household, raised eleven children and became renowned for her wit, intelligence and love of literature.

She entertained writers and intellectuals, spoke several languages and even earned the admiration of Samuel Johnson.

She never remarried, remaining a widow until her death at the age of 90.

Alexander Runciman was a Scottish painter known for his historical, mythological and romantic landscapes.

Trained at the Foulis Academy in Glasgow, he apprenticed under Robert Norie before working as a stage painter in Edinburgh.

A 5-year stay in Rome transformed his artistic interests, shifting his focus from landscapes towards historical scenes and figures. His work became known for its expressive freedom and originality.

Runciman was also a member of Edinburgh’s Cape Club.

Here at The Real Mary King’s Close, we have a particular interest in Runciman thanks to his portrait of fellow Cape Club member Robert Fergusson, pictured above.

James Mann was the owner of the Isle of Man Arms Tavern on Craig’s Close, where the Cape Club held its nightly meetings for a number of years.

Today, a plaque marks the former location of the tavern, commemorating the Cape Club and its most famous member, Robert Fergusson.

The upper section of Craig’s Close, where the tavern once stood, was demolished in the 1750s to make way for the Royal Exchange.

Joanna Baillie was a prominent Scottish poet and dramatist whose work explored moral philosophy and Gothic themes.

She did not learn to read or write until the age of 10, but a visit to the theatre is said to have sparked a lifelong passion for drama.

She devoted much of her life to writing and is best known for Plays on the Passions, published in 3 volumes between 1798 and 1812, and Fugitive Verses (1840).

Lady Rachel Grange led a turbulent and often tragic life.

Her father was hanged when she was a child after murdering a judge, and she later married Lord Grange.

Following years of marital disputes, Rachel threatened to expose her husband’s Jacobite sympathies. In response, Lord Grange conspired with several other Scottish noblemen to have her kidnapped and exiled to the remote island of St Kilda.

He even staged a false funeral to convince the public that she had died.

In 1738, Rachel managed to smuggle letters to her lawyer, Thomas Hope, who arranged for men to rescue her. Unfortunately, she had already been moved before they arrived.

She was subsequently taken between various locations across the Highlands and Islands, eventually dying on the Isle of Skye in 1745.

She is buried at Trumpan Church, pictured above.