24/10/2025
Henry Campsie ♥️ 🖐️ 🗡️ 🛡️
Siege Profile eight – Lieutenant Henry Campsie
Henry Campsie was one of the “Brave Thirteen” apprentices who shut the Gates of Londonderry on the Earl of Antrim’s Regiment known as the Red Shanks (due to incomplete issuing of equipment and uniforms there were a lot of bare knees within their ranks). He was the son of Alderman John Campsie who had served as mayor of the city until the Londonderry Corporation was displaced under Tyrconnell (but returned to his former office in 1689).
Henry is believed to have been the leader of the Apprentices. He may have been put in that position by David Cairns who in the weeks before the shutting of the Gates of the Gates recommended that the gates be shut and the citizens organise a militia for their defence. Cairn’s nephew was among the Brave Thirteen.
On the day the gates were shut a detachment from Antrim’s Regiment crossed the Foyle and made their way towards Ferryquay Gate. Two Red Shanks officers a lieutenant and an ensign (equivalent to a modern Second Lieutenant) had entered the city ahead of their troops and presented the Deputy Mayor John Buchannan, and the sheriffs with their warrant to billet their soldiers in the city. However, the sheriffs noted that the document omitted the names of the officers to be billeted which technically made it invalid. As the civic leaders debated this was when Campsie and his fellow apprentices took action, drawing their swords and seizing the keys and shutting the gates.
The two Red Shank officers were still inside the city and showing some initiative asked that the Magazine be secured and held until the full Jacobite garrison was admitted, a party of Roman Catholic citizens did this.
the Apprentice Boys lead by Campsie moved to seize the city magazine, thus securing arms, powder and ammunition to defend the city. However, the sentry posted at the magazine a local Catholic man known as Linegar shot and wounded Campsie. Thus, he became the first man to shed his blood in the city’s defence. Linegar was then overwhelmed by the apprentices and citizens. However, this was no lawless rabble as rather than hanging him he was taken to the gaol. Interestingly the name of a Patrick Linegar appears among the signatures of the city’s address to King William III following the relief of the city. Its not clear if this is the same person.
Campsie also added his name to this address and like his father would become a Burguess of the City of Londonderry.
He would late face economic hardship and the journal of the Pre- Union House of Commons in Dublin records a letter from a Lieut. Henry Campsie. The letter was praying for relief on account of his service during the siege of Derry, where he was wounded to the peril of his life, and owing to the poor circumstances to which his family had been reduced, in need of assistance. There is no known record of a replay.
Campsie is the only one of the Brave Thirteen to have an Apprentice Boys Club named in his honour this of course being the Campsie Club.
Pictured: Bannerette of the Campsie Parent Club depicting Henry Campsie leading the Apprentices in seizing the Magazine
