[1] Shortly after the death of his elder brother at the Bog of Gight in 1645, he was seized by General John Urry at Montrose, Angus where, aged about 14 years, he was attending school with a tutor.
After the defeat of Charles II in 1652, Montrose made an appearance in London, was received by Oliver Cromwell, and quickly departed for Scotland, where his estates were restored to him.
[3] In March 1653–54, he quarreled there to the point of violence with his hereditary enemy Archibald Campbell, Lord Lorne, (courtesy title of the future 9th Earl of Argyll).
He and his party then made separate peace terms with Monck, agreeing on the 23rd to come to Dundee and give up their arms, and arrange securities.
The matter led to litigation between them, but a negotiated arrangement was reached, and on 23 February 1667 they drank each other's health in the presence of the lord commissioners.