18 March 1689: The Earl of Leven’s Regiment of Foot (later the King’s Own Scottish Borderers) was raised by Act of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. Within 4 hours around 780 men were enlisted to defend the city against the Jacobite supporters of James VII and II. Their first task was to blockade Edinburgh Castle which was held for James by the Duke of Gordon. The regiment’s baptism of fire came on 27 July 1689 at the battle of Killiecrankie. It was a shot fired from Leven’s regiment that mortally wounded the Jacobite commander John Graham of Claverhouse.
18 March
