He joined the Jacobite rising of 1689 and fought at the Battle of Killiecrankie, when he carried the Royal Standard.
He was attainted by the government of William III but managed to retain possession of his estates.
He led his clan in the Battle of Sheriffmuir, when he rallied the Jacobite right wing after the death of Alan of Clan Donald by throwing up his blue bonnet and crying Buillean an-diugh, tuiream a-màireach!
On 9 December 1716, the exiled James Francis Edward Stuart created him Lord MacDonell in the Jacobite peerage of Scotland.
He married secondly Lady Mary, daughter of Kenneth Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Seaforth.