The following record of MacKenzie officers of the 78^th Regiment are taken from http://www.kiltsrock.com/forum/topic/7382-scottish-military-highland-regiments/ and https://www.napoleon-series.org/military/organization/Britain/Infantry/Regiments/c_78thFoot.html

Kenneth McK, Earl of Seaforth, was killed off St Helena en route to India in 1781.

Col Thomas F MacKenzie Humberstone (cousin of Kenneth), who had bought the Seafoth estates in 1779, was killed off Bombay in 1801.

The 1st Battalion was formed in March 1793:

Lt Colonel Francis Humberstone McK (brother of Thomas. Later Lord Seaforth) died 1815 off India

Colonel Alexander McK of Belmaduthy (later Lt General MacKenzie-Fraser – brother in law of F H McK), son of McK of Kilcoy. Died 1809 fever.

Colonel J Randoll McK of Suddie > Major General killed 1809 Tatavera

Major Alexander McK of Fairburn > Lt General

Capt John McK Gairloch

Lt Cohn (Colin) Mck > Capt wounded Arnheim, Holland 1794

The 2^nd Battalion was formed in February 1794 at Fort George:

Colonel Alexander McK of Belmaduthy (later General MacKenzie-Fraser – brother in law of F H McK), son of McK of Kilcoy. Commander at the Cape Sept 1795.

Colonel J Randoll McK of Suddie > Major General killed 1809 Tatavera. Took over command in 1800 at Fort George when Col Alexander McK returned to England.

Capt Simon McK of Gruinard. Killed returning from India. Bitten by a horse.

Capt John McK (Gairloch) > Lt Col half pay 1795 (with Ensign Lewis McK) later General ‘Fighting JacK’ died 1860.

Lt Murdoch McK

Capt F McK Humberstone (also shown as Capt Thomas McK Humberstone) - killed Pettah, India 1803

2^nd Battalion disbanded at Capetown 1796.

The 2nd Battalion Rosshire Buffs formed 1804 at Fort George:

Lt William McK > Capt half pay

Adjutant William McK > Captain

Ensign Colin McK - wounded June 1806 Calabria, Italy

Lt William McK – killed January 1809 Capelle, Belgium

Capt Alexander McK – wounded Sept. 1809 Assaye, India

Capt William McK – wounded June 1811 Batavia

Ensign Colin Mck – wounded

The 78^th Highland Regiment or Seaforth Highlanders was led by the Earl of Seaforth. They arrived in Madras on the 7 April 1782. The Earl of Seaforth died during the passage and command of the regiment passed to Colonel Humberstone MacKenzie. He was killed in April 1783 and command passed to Major-General James Murray. The majority of the troops returned to Scotland in 1784 at the end of their 3 year service, save for 425 to elected to stay in India. The regiment was bolstered by other units and re-designated the 72^nd (Highland) Regiment of Foot. The Regiment served in the Third Anglo Mysore Wars which finished with Siege of Seringapatam in February 1792. The Regiment returned to the UK via Ceylon in February 1798. This would tally with the family records which state that John MacDonald was abroad for 17 years.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/72nd_Regiment,_Duke_of_Albany%27s_Own_Highlanders and https://electricscotland.com/history/scotreg/rosshire/index.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/72nd_Regiment_of_Foot_(disambiguation) http://dictionnaire.sensagent.leparisien.fr/72nd%20Regiment%20of%20Foot/en-en/

The fact that John MacDonald was HEICS makes me wonder if he was seconded to a native army unit. There is mention of a Captain Donald MacDonald forming the 34^th Battalion Madras Native Infantry on 12 Aug 1794 at Vellors. It subsequently became 2^nd Battalion of the 12^th Regiment Madras Infantry and then the 84^th Punjabis Regiment https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/84th_Punjabis . The unit served with distinction at the Siege of Seringapatam. There is a listing of EIC records , which I have yet to fully study https://search.fibis.org/frontis/bin/aps_browse_sources.php?mode=list_sources&source_class=340 . There is, however, mention of a John MacDonald 1789-99 in the EIC Cadet records https://search.fibis.org/frontis/bin/aps_detail.php?id=2196709. This could be interesting.

FibiWiki – an encyclopaedia about the life of Families in British India – provides details of British and Native Regiments. https://wiki.fibis.org/w/Category:British_Army_Infantry_Regiments

Also of interest is the 73rd (Highland) Regiment of Foot, which evolved from Lord MacLeod's Highlanders https://electricscotland.com/history/scotreg/macleod/1777.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/71st_(Highland)_Regiment_of_Foot https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/73rd_Regiment_of_Foot https://wiki.fibis.org/w/73rd_Regiment_of_Foot

Capt Alexander MacKenzie of Dundonell (1712-1783) was with the 73rd when he was killed at Cuddalore 13/6/1783.

Lt Colin MacKenzie of Achilty also served with the 73rd from c1776. He subsequently joined the 78th Highlanders in 1793, retiring as a Captain two years later after being badly wounded at the Battle of Nimegue.

Captain John MacKenzie V of Gruinard (1746-1832)

Captain John MacKenzie of Kinloch (Lochend) was also in the 73rd Regiment.

Lt John MacKenzie of Gairloch (1767- 14/6/1860) (Later General 'Fighting Jack') joined 73rd, aged 15, in 1782. Became Captain then joined 78th Regiment in 1793.