Appointed 23rd June, 1695.
Ventris Columbine served with reputation under the Prince of Orange in the Netherlands, and was promoted to the commission of major in the regiment which is now the Sixth foot. He accompanied the Prince in the expedition to England in 1688, but the transport in which he was embarked was captured by the British ship, the Swallow. He was rewarded with the lieut.-colonelcy of the regiment in 1689; served under King William in Ireland, in 1690; and, in 1691, was wounded at the storming of Athlone. He subsequently exchanged to the foot guards; served under King William in the Netherlands, and while engaged in the memorable siege of the strong fortress of Namur he was promoted to the colonelcy of the regiment in which he had formerly served with honour to himself and advantage to his Majesty's interest. He served at the head of his regiment in 1702, in the expedition to Cadiz, and was engaged in storming the forts at Vigo; but his decease occurred before he was promoted to a higher command.
JAMES RIVERS,
Appointed 2nd November, 1703.
James Rivers had the honour of serving under King William in Ireland and the Netherlands, and his meritorious conduct was rewarded with the lieut.-colonelcy of the regiment which now ranks as Sixth foot, with which corps he served in the expedition to Cadiz, and at the storming of the forts at Vigo. In 1703 Queen Anne promoted him to the colonelcy of the regiment; but he only enjoyed that honourable command two years, and died in the winter of 1705-6.
WILLIAM SOUTHWELL,
Appointed 6th February, 1706.
This officer entered the army previous to the Revolution in 1688, and rose to the rank of major in the regiment which is now the Sixth foot. He served in the expedition to Cadiz and at the storming of the forts at Vigo, in 1702; and was promoted to the lieut.-colonelcy in 1703. He commanded the regiment in the expedition under the Earl of Peterborough, in 1705; and his distinguished conduct at the siege of Barcelona (as narrated in the record of the Sixth foot) was rewarded with the colonelcy of the regiment. He afterwards served in Catalonia and Valencia; but retired in 1708. In 1714 he was appointed commandant of the company of foot-guards armed with battle-axes, and instituted for the guard of the lord-lieutenant of Ireland.
THOMAS HARRISON,
Appointed 14th June, 1708.