100th Regiment of Foot (Prince Regent's County of Dublin Regiment)

The 100th Regiment of Foot (Prince Regent's County of Dublin Regiment) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, raised in Ireland in 1804 for service in the Napoleonic Wars. It was stationed in North America from 1805 to 1818, notably serving in the War of 1812. The regiment was disbanded in 1818.

History

The regiment was raised in Ireland in 1804 as the 100th Regiment of Foot. Shortly after its formation, Lieutenant Colonel John Murray was appointed to command, a post he held for most of the regiment's active service.

In 1805, the 100th were transferred to Nova Scotia, suffering the loss of 271 men when the troopship Aeneas was wrecked off Newfoundland. Following this, the regiment was stationed in Canada proper. In 1807, Colonel Isaac Brock, then serving on the staff in North America, reported favourably on the regiment while it served as garrison for Quebec City, describing the men as "robust, active, and good looking" and noting they were "principally raised in the north of Ireland, and are nearly all Protestants."

In 1813, the regiment was granted the additional title Prince Regent's County of Dublin Regiment.

War of 1812

During the War of 1812, the regiment served on the Canadian frontier. A detachment was present at the Battle of Sackett's Harbour in May 1813. In June 1813, Major George Taylor captured two American 10-gun vessels, the Growler and Eagle, on the Sorrell River near Île aux Noix after a three-and-a-half-hour engagement. The whole regiment participated in the Capture of Fort Niagara in December 1813, followed by raids on Buffalo and Black Rock later that month.

In July 1814, the regiment saw heavy action at the Battle of Chippawa, where it took severe losses, being reduced to "one Captain & 3 subalterns doing duty, with 250 effective men." The regiment subsequently served at the Siege of Fort Erie in the closing months of 1814. For its services in the defence of Canada, the regiment was awarded the battle honour Niagara.

Renumbering and Disbandment

In February 1816, the regiment was renumbered as the 99th Regiment of Foot (Prince Regent's County of Dublin Regiment). It was withdrawn to England in 1818 and disbanded at Chatham. Rather than returning all men to Ireland and Britain, many soldiers were offered and accepted land grants in Upper Canada, with the largest settlement from the regiment being in Richmond, Ontario.

Colonels of the Regiment

• 1805–1818: Brigadier Sir Frederick John Falkiner, Bt.

Key Details