Pragmatic Army

It was formed in 1743 by George II, who was both King of Great Britain and Elector of Hanover, and consisted of a mixture of British, Hanoverian, Dutch and Austrian troops.

[1][2] When her father Emperor Charles VI died in 1740, Maria Theresa was attacked by several enemies including Frederick the Great of Prussia who seized Silesia.

Britain was staunch in backing Maria Theresa, but in his dual role George as Elector of Hanover signed a neutrality with France, a position that caused political controversy in London.

[3] Despite his professed neutrality as Elector of Hanover, George agreed to send a large detachment of the Hanoverian Army along with allied Hessian troops in British pay to take part in the war effort.

At the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748 France agreed to evacuate all the occupied territory of Belgium, in exchange for Britain handing back the captured Canadian stronghold of Louisbourg.

British Pragmatic Army troops in the Low Countries ( David Morier , 1748)
Dutch officers of the Pragmatic Army in a Guardroom ( Cornelis Troost . 1747)
The Battle of Fontenoy by Horace Vernet . A hard-fought battle ended in French victory over the Allies.