The regiment was raised in Glasgow by Major-General Sir Archibald Campbell for service in India as the 74th (Highland) Regiment of Foot in October 1787. In accordance with the Declaratory Act 1788 the cost of raising the regiment was recharged to East India Company on the basis that the act required that expenses "should be defrayed out of the revenues" arising there. The regiment embarked for India in February 1789 and took part in the siege of Bangalore in February 1791 and the siege of Seringapatam in February 1792 during the Third Anglo-Mysore War.