Sottish soldiers could be found in the Americas during the 17th century, some in the service of England, others it the service of the Netherlands or other European powers. In the mid-18th century, the British government raised Highland regiments to fight in America during the Seven Years War (1756-1763), known in America as the French and Indian War. The allocation of land to former military personnel in the aftermath of that war was a major incentive to settle.

With the outbreak of the American Revolution, former soldiers were recalled for duty in Loyalist regiments by the British government. After the war, large numbers of these soldiers were settled in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Quebec. Scottish soldiers, thus, played an important role in settling the British colonies in the Americas.