These achievements were followed by another enterprize of a most important character, in which a detachment of the KING'S OWN had the honour to share; namely, the reduction of the _Havannah_, a wealthy and important city in the island of Cuba.
The island of Cuba was first discovered by the celebrated Columbus, but was not conquered by the Spaniards until the early part of the sixteenth century, from which period it had continued rising in wealth and importance. St. Jago was the capital; but the city of _Havannah_ held the first place in point of wealth and commerce. During the early part of this war, Spain had continued neutral; but in 1762 His Catholic Majesty united his interests with France, and war was declared between Great Britain and Spain. This was immediately followed by a resolution of the British government to attack the important city of Havannah, and an expedition was prepared for this purpose under the orders of General the Earl of Albemarle.
On this occasion the KING'S OWN were left in garrison at Guadaloupe, excepting a detachment of two hundred and twenty-five men under the command of Captain Kennedy, which joined the expedition at Martinico, and formed part of Brigadier-General Grant's brigade. In the landing five leagues eastward of the _Havannah_ on the 6th of June, in the advance upon the city, in the siege and capture of the _Moro_ Fort, and in the other operations by which the final reduction of this wealthy settlement was accomplished, and twelve men-of-war captured in the harbour, the detachment of the KING'S OWN had the honour to take part. The loss of the detachment on this service, including the killed and those who died from fatigue and the effects of climate, was two officers and twenty-four men.
After the completion of this conquest, the detachment returned to Guadaloupe, and the regiment remained in the Leeward Islands until the peace of Fontainbleau, when these acquisitions were restored to the French and Spanish monarchs.
In the spring of 1764 the regiment quitted the West Indies, arrived in England in July of that year, and commenced recruiting its diminished numbers.
After the decease of Lieut.-General Duroure, King George III. conferred, on the 23d of January, 1765, the colonelcy of the regiment on the Hon. Robert Brudenell, from the sixteenth foot; who was succeeded, on the 7th of November, 1768, by Lieut.-General Studholme Hodgson, from the fifth foot.