Royal Corsican Rangers

Several pro-Paoli Corsicans fled the island or were exiled, and in September 1798, they formed a light infantry company known as the "Francs Tireurs Corses" on Minorca, which at the time was held by the British.

In July 1800, Captain Hudson Lowe of the 50th Foot was detached to command the unit, with the temporary rank of Major.

Lowe had served on Corsica during the brief period of British control, and spoke both French and Italian.

[1] When war broke out again between Britain and France in 1803, Major Lowe was ordered to raise a second Corsican regiment, to serve in the Mediterranean.

They were augmented by recruits from Sicily, Sardinia and Naples, to a strength of roughly 600 in ten companies.

In July 1805, the Royal Corsican Rangers took part in a British expedition to Sicily and Naples.

On 4 July 1806, three companies of the regiment took part in the Battle of Maida, which ended with a British victory.

The next year, the regiment took part in an expedition to the French-ruled Ionian Islands under General Sir John Stuart.

As a result, the British force, which included men from the 2nd Greek Light Infantry from Cephalonia, the Royal Corsican Rangers, the 35th Regiment of Foot, and other units, and marines and seamen from Apollo, captured 122 enemy troops and a small, well-designed fort of three guns.