79th Regiment of Foot (Royal Liverpool Volunteers)
Encyclopedia
The 79th Regiment of Foot (Royal Liverpool Volunteers) was an infantry regiment of the British Army
, also known as the Liverpool Blues, which served in the Americas
during the American War of Independence.
In common with other volunteer regiments formed elsewhere in Britain during the conflict, the 79th was raised at the expense of the port of Liverpool
, with the town's corporation contributing £
2000. On the 79th's creation in 1778, Major Pole assumed command as its lieutenant-colonel.
The regiment arrived in Jamaica in March 1779 and had dectachments assigned the role of marine
s. In February 1780, the regiment took part in an expedition against the Spanish colony of Nicaragua
, ferried by young Captain Horatio Nelson. Disease became rife in the inhospitable climate, decimating the expedition. An evacuation was carried out later in the year.
In 1781, Banastre Tarleton
became the lieutenant-colonel of the Liverpool Volunteers, though remained in command of the 5th American Regiment (British Legion). An infamous cavalry officer during the American Revolution, Tarleton was the son of a former Mayor of Liverpool.
The regiment returned to Liverpool in early 1784 and disbanded after the war ended. On 4 February 1784, a contingent of seven officers received the freedom of the borough while the regiment's colours were laid up at Liverpool Town Hall
.
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, also known as the Liverpool Blues, which served in the Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
during the American War of Independence.
In common with other volunteer regiments formed elsewhere in Britain during the conflict, the 79th was raised at the expense of the port of Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, with the town's corporation contributing £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
2000. On the 79th's creation in 1778, Major Pole assumed command as its lieutenant-colonel.
The regiment arrived in Jamaica in March 1779 and had dectachments assigned the role of marine
Marine corps
A marine is a member of a force that specializes in expeditionary operations such as amphibious assault and occupation. The marines traditionally have strong links with the country's navy...
s. In February 1780, the regiment took part in an expedition against the Spanish colony of Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
, ferried by young Captain Horatio Nelson. Disease became rife in the inhospitable climate, decimating the expedition. An evacuation was carried out later in the year.
In 1781, Banastre Tarleton
Banastre Tarleton
General Sir Banastre Tarleton, 1st Baronet, GCB was a British soldier and politician.He is today probably best remembered for his military service during the American War of Independence. He became the focal point of a propaganda campaign claiming that he had fired upon surrendering Continental...
became the lieutenant-colonel of the Liverpool Volunteers, though remained in command of the 5th American Regiment (British Legion). An infamous cavalry officer during the American Revolution, Tarleton was the son of a former Mayor of Liverpool.
The regiment returned to Liverpool in early 1784 and disbanded after the war ended. On 4 February 1784, a contingent of seven officers received the freedom of the borough while the regiment's colours were laid up at Liverpool Town Hall
Liverpool Town Hall
Liverpool Town Hall stands in High Street at its junction with Dale Street, Castle Street, and Water Street in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building, described in the National Heritage List for England as "one of the finest...
.