For other units with the same regimental number, see 78th Regiment of Foot (disambiguation)

The 78th Regiment of Foot was a Highland Infantry Regiment of the Line raised in late 18th Century Scotland for service against the French during the Napoleonic Wars.

St. Giles]], Edinburgh

History

The original 78th Foot was raised by the Earl of Seaforth in 1778. This unit served in India in the Mysore Campaigns and on 12 September 1786 its designation was changed to the 72nd Foot (Seaforth Highlanders).^[1] Later, on 7 March 1793, Francis Humberstone MacKenzie raised the "78th (Highland) Regiment of Foot". In 1795 it was renamed the 78th (Highland) Regiment of Foot, or "The Ross-shire Buffs". During the Napoleonic Wars the 2nd Battalion of the regiment served in the Mediterranean for the Sicilian Campaign of 1806, quartered at Syracuse, and the Alexandria expedition of 1807.^[2] The 78th fought under Wellington at Assaye in the Maharatta campaign and were awarded an Assaye Colour. They saw garrison duty in Goa before joining the Java Campaign from August 1811 to the end of 1816, after which they returned to India and thence to Britain.

It fought in the Anglo-Persian War of 1857 under the command of General Foster Stalker. In April 1873 under the "Linked Regiments Depot System" the 78th Highlanders were linked with the 71st Highland Light Infantry at 55 Brigade Depot, Fort George.

In 1881 it was amalgamated with 72nd Highlanders forming the 2nd Battalion of The Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs).

Fraser's Highlanders

In 1757, the 78th Fraser Highlanders were raised by Lieutenant Colonel Simon Fraser of Lovat and sent to fight in the French and Indian War. At the end of the Seven Years' War in 1763, the 78th was disbanded. Apart from the regimental number, the unit has no relation to the 78th Foot raised in 1778.

Citations and notes

References

• Alsager Pollock, Arthur William, (ed.), The United Service Magazine, Notes of an Expedition to Alexandria of the year 1807, H. Colburn [etc.], 1837
• Lieutenant Colonel Fairrie, Angus. Cuidich'n Righ: A History of the Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Camerons). Inverness: Regimental H.Q., Queen's Own Highlanders, 1998
• James MacVeigh, The Jubilee Memorial. The Historical Records of The 78th Highlanders Or Ross-shire Buffs, (Now 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders) From 1793 to 1887. From Official and Authentic Sources. Dumfries: 1887.

External links

• Queen's Own Highlanders Association