The regiment was originally raised by Colonel Daniel Houghton as Houghton's Regiment in 1741 for service during the War of the Austrian Succession. From 1745, the Regiment was named after Colonel Hugh Warburton. It was first posted to Gibraltar in 1745, before moving to Nova Scotia in 1747 for garrison duty under the command of Warburton. he regiment also took part in the Siege of Louisbourg in July 1758 during the French and Indian War. The regiment also saw action in North America during the American War of Independence, fighting at the Battle of Long Island in August 1776[7] before returning to England in 1778. In 1779 the citizens of Nottinghamshire petitioned for the regiment to have the county name included in the regimental name: this was granted and the regiment became the 45th (1st Nottinghamshire) Regiment.