Little or nothing is known of the history of his early life. In
1784, and again in 1790, he was elected M.P. for the County of Ross.
In 1787, in the thirty-third year of his age, he offered to raise a
regiment on his own estates for the King's service, to be commanded
by himself. In the same year the 74th, 75th, 76th, and 77th
Regiments were raised, and the Government declined his patriotic
offer, but agreed to accept his services in procuring recruits
for the 74th and 75th. This did not satisify him, and he did not
then come prominently to the front. On the 19th of May 1790, he
renewed his offer, but the Government informed him that the
strength of the army had been finally fixed at 77 Regiments, and
his services were again declined. He was still anxious to be of
service to his country, and when the war broke out in 1793, he for
the third time renewed his offer, and placed his great influence
at the service of the Crown. On this occasion a letter of
service is granted in his favour, dated the 7th of March, 1793,
empowering him, as Lieutenant-Colonel-Commandant, to raise a Highland
battalion, which, being the first embodied during the war, was to
be numbered the 78th, the original Mackenzie regiment having had
its number previously reduced to the 72d.
Pages:
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540