Horse Guards Regiment

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Horse Guards Regiment was a regiment only in name: it actually consisted of several independent troops. While there were four major troops, another three were created at various times. The 5th and 6th Troops of Horse Guards were short-lived, and of little importance in the British military; the Scottish Troop was also short-lived, having been named after John Middleton, 1st Earl of Middleton and after John Leslie, 7th Earl of Rothes.


Note: From 1658 to 1788, the Horse Guards existed as independent troops. They were placed on the English establishment in 1661 with the founding of the modern Regular British Army.


Contents

[edit] 1st Troop [1658-1788]

  • 1658-1788 1st (His Majesty's Own) Troop of Horse Guards [formed in exile in Holland from followers of Charles II].
  • 1746 absorbed 3rd Troop, The Horse Guards.
  • 1788 absorbed 1st Troop, The Horse Grenadier Guards and was reorganised to form the 1st Regiment of Life Guards

[edit] 2nd Troop [1659-1788]

  • 1659-1660 Monck's Life Guards [raised for Spanish service].
  • 1660-1661 3rd (The Duke of Albemarle's) Troop of Horse Guards.
  • 1661-1670 3rd (The Lord General's) Troop of Horse Guards.
  • 1670-1788 2nd (The Queen's) Troop of Horse Guards.
  • 1788 absorbed 4th Troop, The Horse Guards.
  • 1788 On June 8th it absorbs the 2nd Troop, The Horse Grenadier Guards and on June 25th it is reorganised, to form the 2nd Regiment of Life Guards.

[edit] 3rd Troop [1658-1746]

  • 1658-1670 2nd (The Duke of York's) Troop of Horse Guards [formed in exile in Holland from followers of Charles II]
  • 1670-1746 3rd (The Duke of York's) Troop of Horse Guards
  • 1746 absorbed by 1st Troop, The Horse Guards.


[edit] Temporary Raisings

[edit] 4th Troop [1661-1683; 1687-1689]

  • 1661-1683 4th Troop of Horse Guards [raised on the English establishment]
  • 1687-1689 4th (Lord Dover's) Troop of Horse Guards [Disbanded upon the deposing of James II of England ].

[edit] 4th (Dutch) Troop [1689-1699]

  • 1660 The Earl of Portland's Troop of Horse Guards ("The Blue Guards") [raised for Dutch service]
  • 1689-1699 4th (His Majesty's) Troop of Horse Guards [placed on English establishment in 1689 and returned to Dutch service in 1699 upon the death of William III of England ]

[edit] 4th (Scots) Troop [1709-1746]

  • 1661-1709 Scots Troop of Horse Guards [raised on the Scottish establishment]
  • 1709-1746 4th Troop of Horse Guards [transferred to the British establishment]
  • 1746 absorbed by 2nd Troop, The Horse Guards.

[edit] The Scottish Troop [1661-1676]

Raised on the Scottish Establishment for attendance on the Lord High Commissioner to the Parliament of Scotland.

[edit] 5th Troop [1664-1676]

  • 1664-1676 5th Troop of Horse Guards [disbanded]

[edit] 6th Troop [1664-1685]

  • 1664-1685 6th Troop of Horse Guards [disbanded in Ireland]


[edit] Horse Grenadier Guards ("The Greens") [1687-1788]

1st Troop of Grenadiers [1687-1788]

  • 1687-1693 1st Troop of Grenadiers [formerly part of The King's Troop of Guards]
  • 1693 The Horse Grenadier Guards [formed by amalgamation of 1st, 2nd and 3rd Troops of Grenadiers]
  • 1709-1788 1st Troop, Horse Grenadier Guards
  • 1788 absorbed by 1st Troop, The Horse Guards

2nd Troop of Grenadiers [1687-1693; 1709-1788]

  • 1687 2nd Troop of Grenadiers [formerly part of The Queen's Troop of Guards]
  • 1693 amalgamated with 1st Troop, The Horse Grenadier Guards
  • 1702-1709 Scots Troop of Grenadiers formed [raised on Scottish establishment]
  • 1709-1788 2nd Troop, Horse Grenadier Guards [transferred to British establishment in London]
  • 1788 absorbed by 2nd Troop, The Horse Guards

3rd Troop of Grenadiers [1687-1693]

  • 1687-1693 3rd Troop of Grenadiers [formerly part of 3rd (The Duke of York's) Troop of Guards]
  • 1693 amalgamated with 1st Troop, The Horse Grenadier Guards.


For more information on specific troops, see the following pages: