| 72nd Regiment of Foot (Royal Manchester Volunteers) | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1777 – 1783 |
| Country |  Kingdom of Great Britain (1707–1800) |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Type | Infantry |
The72nd Regiment of Foot (Royal Manchester Volunteers) was a regiment in the British Army from 1777 to 1783.[1]
It was formed on 16 December 1777 by public subscription in theCity of Manchester to serve on garrison duty inGibraltar during theAmerican War of Independence. There they took part in theGreat Siege of Gibraltar which lasted from June 1779 to February 1783, when French and Spanish forces unsuccessfully attempted to capture Gibraltar from English control.
They were disbanded in 1783 on their return to Manchester following theTreaty of Paris (1783).