42nd Regiment - Garrison at Inverness circa 1800 ?

[CaptainP]

The Capt. Hector McLean of the Reay Fencible Highlanders started the American War for Independence as a quartermaster sergeant of the 42nd Regt. After QM Colin Smith committed suicide, Hector was appointed QM effective 1779 and remained in that position until on April 12, 1794, the War Office announced that for the 42nd “Quarter-Master Serjeant Donald McDonald to be Quarter-Master, vice McLean, removed to the Independent Companies...” and that “Quarter-Master Hector McLean from the 42d Foot, to be Ensign in Captain [Hon. John] Kennedy’s Independent Company of Foot, vice Shipley, promoted in the 85th Foot.” I'm not sure how long Kennedy's company was in existence, but in 1794 McLean was commissioned a Lt. in the Reay Fencibles. On 7th Novr. 1796, Reg. Orders announced "R. O. Lieut. Hector Maclean to be attached to Captain Lamington Baillie's Company, and to have charge of it till further orders." I'm not sure when he was promoted to Capt. Lt., but The War-Office on January 30, 1798 announced: "Reay Fencible Infantry. Captain-Lieutenant Hector McLean to be Captain, vice MacKay, removed to a Lieutenancy of Invalids on the British Establishment." McLean played a prominent command roll in the Reay's attack of Irish rebel position in the Battle of Tara Hill in 1798. The Reay Fencible Highlanders were disbanded Oct. 13, 1802. On May 6 1809, Capt. McLean was appointed Adjutant of the 5th Aberdeen Local Militia Regt. and remained in that position until the militia was disbanded on April 24, 1816. McLean died in 1820. His death notice read "Captain Hector McLean, late of the REAY Highlanders and formerly Quarter Master of the 42nd Regiment of Foot, and afterwards Adjutant of the Fifth Regiment of the Aberdeenshire Local Militia, died at Aberdeen upon the 22nd day of October 1820." McLean's son, Dr. George Gordon McLean graduated from King's College in 1812 and received his MD in 1819. He served as an Asst. Surgeon to the 78th Highlanders and afterward became a Professor of Hebrew at Marischal College in Aberdeen and died in 1868.

Paul Pace
Author, Kilts & Courage, Vol. II, The Officers of the 42nd or Royal Highland Regiment in the American War for Independence, 1776-1783.

[StewL]

Hello Paul

I am sure your information will be most welcome to those who contributed to this thread

[CaptainP]

The Captain Hector Maclean being discussed from the 42d Regt. served as a QM Serjeant and Quarter Master in the 42nd. He was not commissioned until after he left the 42nd to join an Independent company as an Ensign. Eventually ended up as a capt. in Rhea Fencibles in Ireland during '98.

I can provide complete bio if anybody is still interested.