[FORTY-SECOND OR ROYAL HIGHLAND REGIMENT.]
SECOND BATTALION.
NOW THE SEVENTY-THIRD REGIMENT.
1780–1809.
Raising of the Regiment—First list of Officers—St Iago—India—Ponanee—Bednoor—Anantapoor—Mangalore—Tillycherry—Bombay—Dinapore—Cawnpore—Fort-William—Seringapatam—Pondicherry—Ceylon—Madras—Mysore—Home—Ceases to be a Highland Regiment.
About 1780 the situation of Great Britain was extremely critical, as she had not only to sustain a war in Europe, but also to defend her vast possessions in North America and the East Indies. In this emergency Government looked towards the north for aid, and although nearly 13,000 warriors had been drawn from the country north of the Tay, within the previous eighteen months, it determined again to draw upon the Highland population, by adding a second battalion to the 42nd regiment.
The following officers were appointed to the battalion:—
Colonel—Lord John Murray, died in 1787, the oldest General in the army.
Lieutenant-Colonel—Norman Macleod of Macleod, died in 1801, a Lieutenant-General.
Major—Patrick Græme, son of Inchbraco, died in 1781.