The regiment was first raised in 1694 by Colonel Sir John Gibson, the Lieutenant-Governor of Portsmouth, as Sir John Gibson's Regiment of Foot and was posted to Newfoundland to protect the colony there, losing many of its men to the extreme cold.
The regiment was first raised in 1694 by Colonel Sir John Gibson as Sir John Gibson's Regiment of Foot. The regiment was posted to Newfoundland to protect the colony there, losing many of its men to the extreme cold. Colonel Sir John Gibson was the Lieutenant-Governor of Portsmouth.