Who were the British soldiers who fought in the American Revolution? What sort of men filled the ranks of the regiments that fought for the King? Far from ruffians or conscripted criminals, the British army of the era was largely a force of career soldiers who had voluntarily enlisted after trying their hands at other trades. This talk will look at the demographics of a typical British regiment serving in America during the war, presenting the nationalities, ages, background and experience of the common soldiers that served in it. It will show the diversity of the army by detailing the careers of several individual soldiers. The real stories of these professional soldiers are sure to be surprising. 

Don N. Hagist is the managing editor of Journal of the American Revolution (http://allthingsliberty.com) and author of several books focusing on common soldiers during the American War for Independence, including These Distinguished Corps: British Grenadier and Light Infantry Battalions in the American Revolution (Helion: 2021), Noble Volunteers: the British Soldiers who Fought the American Revolution (Westholme, 2020), and The Revolution's Last Men: the Soldiers Behind the Photographs (Westholme Publishing, 2015).