The King's Carolina Rangers was a loyalist militia regiment active during the American War of Independence. It was composed of nine infantry companies, of which one was converted into a troop of dragoons in 1782. After fleeing a particularly violent tarring and feathering by Patriots outside of Augusta, Georgia, Thomas Brown sought refuge among loyalists in East Florida in 1775. In 1779 the East Florida Rangers were reorganized into a regiment of infantry, becoming the King's Carolina Rangers on the orders of Brigadier-general Augustine Prevost. Following defeat at Augusta, The unit embarked for Charleston, where they remained until October. Then, with the Royal North Carolina Regiment and the South Carolina Royalists, they embarked for St. Augustine to garrison East Florida. The unit spent most of the year garrisoned in St. Augustine. The unit was then ‘decommissioned’ in late 1783 following the signing of the Treaty of Paris and the cessation of hostilities. Individuals serving in the KCR were unable to remain in Florida owing to the agreed transfer of the state to Spain by Britain.