One of Oliver Cromwell's most loyal supporters, and leader of his subjugation of the Scots, which brought poverty and starvation by the early 1650s. Monk (or Monck) was part of Cromwell's defeat of the Scots at Dunbar (1650). He laid siege to Tantallon and Blackness Castles (1651), destroying the former and causing much damage to the latter. He also sacked Dundee in the same year. Monk drove the remaining royalists into the Highlands and build garrison fortresses at Ayr, Fort William (Inverlochy), Inverness, Leith and Perth to ensure peace in Scotland.
Although having served Cromwell with immense loyalty, following Cromwell's death and facing chaos in the army, he switched his support to King Charles II (1630-85), marching south from Coldstream (1660) to restore parliamentary democracy. His regiment was later renamed the Coldstream Guards. After his restoration to the throne, Charles made Monk the Duke of Albemarle.
Monk is buried in Westminster Abbey, London.
