The Monmouth Rebellion

1685

The King’s 8th Regiment of Foot was formed as the “Princess Anne of Denmark’s Regiment of Foot” to fight against a rebellion lead by James Scott – The Duke of Monmouth.

The Nine Year’s War / The Williamite War

1689 & 1690

The King’s Regiment Took part in the Siege of Carrickfergus, The Siege of Cork, The Siege of Limerick, and The Battle of the Boyne.

For approximately 10 years after these actions, the regiment was sent to garrison duties around England, Ireland, and the Dutch Provinces.

The War of Spanish Succession

1701 – 1706

The King’s Regiment was renamed “The Queen’s Regiment of Foot” after Queen Anne became the monarch of England. Later this year it took part in the Assault on Nijmegen, the capture of Huy and Limbourg, the Battle of Elixheim, the Battle of Blenheim, the Battle of Ramillies, the Siege of Menin, and several small sieges.

The (First) Jacobite Rebellion

1708 – 1710

The Queen’s Regiment of Foot was recalled to England due to the threat of a Jacobite Rebellion in Scotland, but were later deployed back to France. taking place in the Battle of Oudenarde, and several small sieges to round out the year. in 1709 they assisted in the Siege of Tournai. in 1710 they took part in the sieges of Douai, Béthune, Aire and St. Venant.

1715 & 1717

The Queen’s Regiment was absorbed into the Government Army headed by the Duke of Argyll. This same year they took part in the Battle of Sheriffmuir. Due to their service in this battle they were renamed to the King’s Regiment of Foot. it remained in Scotland until 1717 after the threat of the Jacobite Rebellion had subsided.

1717 – 1721

The King’s Regiment of Foot was Garrisoned in Ireland.

The War of Austrian Succession

1742 – 1745

The Regiment Served in the War of Austrian Succession, leaving England for Flanders. They took part in the battles of Dettingen & Fontenoy.

The Second Jacobite Rebellion

1746

With the return of Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie), the 2nd Jacobite Rebellion commenced. the King’s Regiment was not pulled into this conflict until the Battle of Falkirk. they would then fight in the Battle of Culloden, where the regiment would only take 1 casualty. After the second Jacobite Rebellion was put down, they would return to fighting in the war of Austrian Succession, fighting in the battles of Rocoux and Lauffeld.

1751

The British Army adopted its numbering system, with the numbers originally being ordered from lowest to highest based on their date of creation. The King’s Regiment of foot would then become the 8th (King’s) Regiment of foot.

The 7 Year’s War / The French and Indian War

1756 – 1762

The 7 Years War (The French & Indian War) begins. The King’s 8th would expand from 1 Battalion to 2, consisting in total of 20 Companies. Both Battallions of the King’s 8th would assault and capture the Île d’Aix. in 1758 the 2nd Battallion was split off, and became the 63rd Regiment of Foot. in 1760 the grenadier companies would take part in the battles of Warburg and Kloster Kampen. The full Battalion would take part in the battles of Kirch-Denkern, Paderborn, Wilhelmsthal, and the capture of Cassel.

1768

The King’s 8th was sent to the colonies, and garrisoned at forts: Detroit, Niagara, Oswegatchie, and Michilimackinac. The regiment was responsible for defending the entire area north of the Ohio River from the Mississippi River east to the Adirondack Mountains.

The American War for Independence

1775 – 1783

With the invasion of Quebec by the Continental army the Kings 8th Company that was posted at Fort Oswegatchie sent 40 Regulars and 40 Cannadian Volunteers, along with a force of hundreds of Indigenous warriers to attack Fort Ceders. the outcome of which would lead to the Continental forces surrendering. After their success at Fort Ceders this force would continue on to Montreal.

In 1778 A force of the 8th from Fort Niagara would take part in the Siege of Fort Stanwix. That same year a detachment of the 8th from Fort Detroit would assist in Henry Hamilton’s capture of Vincennes. this same detachment would garrison Fort Sackvillle in the winter. A detachment from Fort Niagara would be present at the Cherry Valley massacre.

in 1779 a detachment from Fort Detroit would be sent to besiege Fort Laurens. they kept the siege for roughly a month, after which the winter weather would become too extreme, and the siege was lifted. That same year a small amount of the 8th regiment would be present at the Battle of Newtown.

in 1780 Major DePeyster ordered an expedition to Kentucky (Bird’s Expedition). A Detachment of the King’s 8th was sent from Fort Detroit to assist in this expedition.