Captain James Gorry, 87th Regiment of Foot, or Highland Volunteers, 1760

Oil on canvas by unknown artist, 1760.

The 87th Regiment of Foot, or Highland Volunteers, was raised in 1759 for service in the Seven Years War (1756-1763). Gorry was commissioned on 27 October 1759 and was among six captains in the regiment for, although there were eight companies, the Lieutenant-Colonel and the major were technically each in command of a company (each company also having two first lieutenants and one second lieutenant). Gorry served with the Regiment until 1763, when it was disbanded. Like many other officers, he could not find a vacancy in another regiment and was forced on to go on the half-pay list.

Gorry carries a basket-hilt sword and a Scottish all-metal flintlock pistol with a 'ram's horn' butt, on which is a recess bearing 'C/ JG/ 1760', apparently indicating his rank as well as his name and the date. Both weapons are typical of the period.