91st Foot
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Origin and History
The regiment was raised in Ireland on December 12, 1759 by Colonel Cadwallader Lord Blayney.
During the Seven Years' War, the regiment was under the command of:
- from December 1759 to 1763: Colonel Cadwallader Lord Blayney
The regiment was disbanded in 1763. Many of its troopers joined the 3rd Buffs in Minorca.
Service during the War
In 1762, the regiment was sent to Portugal to assist the Portuguese army against a Spanish invasion. It arrived from Ireland in May.
In 1763, the regiment returned to Ireland where it was disbanded.
Uniform
Privates

Headgear |
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Neckstock | white | ||||||||||||
Coat | brick red lined white and laced and edged white (no detail available of the regimental braid) with 3 white buttonholes under the lapels (same lace as above)
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Waistcoat | brick red laced white (same lace as above) | ||||||||||||
Breeches | brick red | ||||||||||||
Gaiters | white with black buttons black during campaigns | ||||||||||||
Leather Equipment |
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Troopers were armed with with a "Brown Bess" muskets, a bayonet and a sword. They also carried a dark brown haversack with a metal canteen on the left hip.
Officers
Officers of the regiment wore the same uniforms as the private soldiers but with the following differences
- silver gorget around the neck
- an aiguilette on the right shoulder
- silver lace instead of normal lace
- a crimson sash
Officers wore the same headgear as the private soldiers under their command; however, officers of the grenadier company wore a more decorated mitre cap.
Officers generally carried a spontoon, however, in battle some carried muskets instead.
Musicians
According to the Royal Clothing Warrant of 1751, regiments with black facings dressed their musicians as follows:
- The drummers of the regiment were clothed in black, lined, faced, and lapelled on the breast with red, and laced in such manner as the colonel shall think fit for distinction sake, the lace, however, was of the colours of that on the soldiers' coats.
- The front or fore part of the drums was painted black, with the king's cypher and crown, and the number “XCI” under it. The rims were red.
Colours
According to the Royal Clothing Warrant of 1751, regiments with black facings had colours of the following patterns:
King's Colour: Union with its centre decorated with a rose and thistle wreath around the regiment number "XCI" in gold Roman numerals on crimson.
Regimental Colour: red cross of St. George in a black field; centre device consisting of a rose and thistle wreath around the regiment number "XCI" in gold Roman numerals on crimson. The Union in the upper left corner.
References
Fortescue, J. W.: A History of the British Army Vol. II, MacMillan, London, 1899
Kirby, Mike, The British Contingent - Uniform Information, Seven Years War Association Journal, Vol. XII No. 3
Mills, T. F.: Land Forces of Britain the Empire and Commonwealth through the Way Back Machine
Schirmer, Friedrich: Die Heere der kriegführenden Staaten 1756 - 1763. Edited and published by KLIO-Landesgruppe Baden-Württemberg e.V., Magstadt, 1989
United Services Magazine 1863, Issue 3
N.B.: the section Service during the War is mostly derived from our articles depicting the various campaigns, battles and sieges.
Acknowledgements
Digby Smith for the information provided on this junior regiment.