During the 1688 Glorious Revolution, William Cavendish, later Duke of Devonshire, raised a troop of horse to provide an escort for Princess Anne, younger daughter of James II.

After James fled into exile, a number of independent troops were brought together to form Lord Cavendish's Regiment of Horse.

[3] Saved from disbandment by being transferred onto the Irish establishment, it served in Europe throughout the War of the Spanish Succession, fighting at Blenheim, Elixheim, Ramillies and Malplaquet.

[4] After the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht it returned to Ireland, where in 1720, French Huguenot exile and future Field Marshal John Ligonier took over as colonel, a position he held for 29 years.

At Lauffeld in July 1747, it took part in a famous charge led by Ligonier that allowed their infantry to escape what was an Allied defeat.

[20] A squadron from the regiment rode ten miles to capture the town of Lessines on 11 November 1918 shortly before the armistice.