71st Regiment of Foot

71st Regiment of Foot
Regimental colours
Active	19 December 1777–1 July 1881
Country	Kingdom of Great Britain (1777–1800)  United Kingdom (1801–1881)
Branch	British Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Light infantry
Size	One battalion (two battalions 1778–1783, 1804–1815)
Garrison/HQ	Cameron Barracks, Inverness
Engagements	Second Anglo-Mysore War Third Anglo-Mysore War French Revolutionary Wars Napoleonic Wars Crimean War Indian Rebellion Ambela Campaign

The 71st Regiment of Foot was a Highland regiment in the British Army, raised in 1777. Under the Childers Reforms it amalgamated with the 74th (Highland) Regiment of Foot to become the 1st Battalion, Highland Light Infantry in 1881.

The regiment was raised at Elgin by Major-General John Mackenzie, Lord MacLeod as the 73rd (Highland) Regiment of Foot (McLeod's Highlanders) from Highland clans in December 1777. A second battalion was formed in September 1778. The 1st battalion embarked for India in January 1779 and, having landed some troops at Gorée in Senegal to on the way, reached Madras in January 1780. The flank companies were captured at Conjeveram in September 1780 during the Second Anglo-Mysore War. The battalion went on to take part in the Battle of Porto Novo in July 1781, the Battle of Pollilur in August 1781 and the Battle of Sholinghur in September 1781. After that the battalion took part in the Siege of Cuddalore in June 1783.

Meanwhile the 2nd battalion, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel George Mackenzie, embarked for the Mediterranean Sea and served as marines at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent in January 1780 before being landed at Gibraltar later that month and then taking part in the Great Siege of Gibraltar; the battalion was disbanded in 1783.