Historical Record of the Thirty-first, or, the Huntingdonshire Regiment of Foot; / containing an account of the formation of the regiment in 1702, and of its subsequent services to 1850

by Richard Cannon

52nd	Regt.,	com. by Colonel	James Abercromby	now the	50th Regt.
53rd	”	”	Robt. Napier	”	51st Regt.
54th	”	”	H. Lambton	”	52nd Regt.
55th	”	”	W. Whitmore	”	53rd Regt.
56th	”	”	John Campbell	”	54th Regt.
57th	”	”	G. Perry	”	55th Regt.
58th	”	”	Lord C. Manners	”	56th Regt.
59th	”	”	John Arabin	”	57th Regt.
60th	”	”	Robt. Anstruther	”	58th Regt.
61st	”	”	Charles Montagu	”	59th Regt.
62nd Royal American, Col. of four battalions,			The Earl of Loudon.	”	60th Regt.

14. In April, 1758, the Second Battalions of the fifteen regiments, undermentioned, were formed into distinct regiments, and numbered as shown in the following list; viz.:—

3rd Foot,	2d Batt.,	constd	61st Regt.	19th Foot,	2d Batt.,	constd	66th Regt.
4th Foot,	”	”	62nd Regt.	20th Foot,	”	”	67th Regt.
8th Foot,	”	”	63rd Regt.	23rd Foot,	”	”	68th Regt.
11th Foot,	”	”	64th Regt.	24th Foot,	”	”	69th Regt.
12th Foot,	”	”	65th Regt.	31st Foot,	”	”	70th Regt.

The	Second	Battalion of the	32nd	was constituted the	71st Regt.
	”	”	33rd	” ”	72nd Regt.
	”	”	34th	” ”	73rd Regt.
	”	”	36th	” ”	74th Regt.
	”	”	37th	” ”	75th Regt.

After the peace of Fontainebleau, in 1763, reductions were made in the regular army, and the number of regiments of infantry was limited to Seventy. The above 71st, 72nd, 73rd, 74th, and 75th Regiments were consequently disbanded in that year.

15. The number of regiments of infantry continued at Seventy, until the commencement of the American War in 1775, and the renewal of hostilities with France and Spain in 1779, when it was increased to One hundred and Five regiments, exclusive of Eleven unnumbered regiments, and thirty-six independent companies of Invalids.

16. After the General Peace in 1782 the number of regiments of infantry was again reduced.

17. In consequence of an increase of possessions in India, and of additional troops being necessary for the suppression of certain native powers, which were hostile to the British Government, additional corps were raised and embarked for the East Indies in 1779, and in subsequent years.

18. The present Seventy-first regiment was raised in December, 1777, and embarked for India in 1779. Its number was changed from 73rd to 71st regiment in 1786.

19. The present Seventy-second regiment was raised in December, 1777, and embarked for India in 1781. Its number was changed from 78th to 72nd regiment in 1786.