[Sidenote: 1756] Early in 1756 the formation of the regiment was completed, and the following officers were appointed to commissions in the corps:-- _Colonel_, William Whitmore. _Lieutenant-Colonel_, Geo. Craufurd. _Major_, Wm. Arnot. _Captains._ John Lindsay. Jas. Wakeman. Jas. Mc.Farlane. Geo. Sempill. Tho. Benson. Robert Lamb. Tho. Thompson. _Captain-Lieut._, Lord Viscount Allen. _Lieutenants._ Geo. O. Kenlock. Rob. Wright. Chs. Chambre. John Manmore. Jas. Worsley. Jno. Campbell. Jno. Donellan. John Slowe. Wm. Hughes. Tho. Dyson. _Ensigns._ Cha. L. Richards. Tho. Moore. John Wright. Geo. Massey. Lodovick Grant. Westley Groves. Dougal Ewart. Geo. C. Brown. Jas. Frognorton. _Chaplain_, Geo. Watkins. _Surgeon_, Tho. London. _Adjutant_, J. Frognorton. _Quarter-Master_, Cosmo Gordon. The formation of the regiment being completed, it received orders to embark for Gibraltar, and was stationed at that important fortress during the whole of the seven years' war, and remained there until 1768. [Sidenote: 1758] [Sidenote: 1759] In October, 1758, Colonel Whitmore was removed to the ninth regiment of foot; and was succeeded in the colonelcy of the FIFTY-THIRD, in April, 1759, by Colonel John Toovey, from lieut.-colonel in the royal dragoons. [Sidenote: 1768] The regiment was relieved from duty at the fortress of Gibraltar in 1768, when it embarked for Ireland, where it was quartered during the following eight years. [Sidenote: 1770] Colonel Toovey died in the early part of the year 1770, and King George III. conferred the colonelcy on Colonel R. Dalrymple Horne Elphinstone, who had commanded the 120th regiment of foot, which was disbanded after the peace in 1763. [Sidenote: 1775] While the regiment was stationed in Ireland, the misunderstanding between Great Britain and her North American provinces on the subject of taxation, was followed by open hostilities; and a body of American troops undertook the siege of _Quebec_. [Sidenote: 1776] In the spring of 1776 the FIFTY-THIRD and several other corps proceeded, under Major-General Burgoyne, for the relief of Quebec: this regiment embarked from Ireland on the 4th of April, arrived in Canada towards the end of May, and took part in the operations by which the American troops were driven from the confines of the British provinces. During the winter the regiment was stationed at Chambly. [Sidenote: 1777]