At the age of twelve, Francis Humberston Mackenzie contracted scarlet fever, which left him unable to hear and he lost almost all of his ability to speak. In 1783 he became the last male heir of the attainted Earls of Seaforth.

Mackenzie tried on three occasions to raise a regiment from amongst his own estates. On the second request, the government declined, but accepted his services in providing recruits for the 74th and 75th Regiments. In 1793, he was granted a letter of service dated 7th March 1793 giving him authority as a Lieutenant Colonel Commandant to raise the 78th (Highland) Regiment of Foot.

Known for his determination not to let his disability hinder his aspirations, Mackenzie went on to become Lord Seaforth in the peerage of Great Britain on 26th October 1797. As well as Clan Chief, he was also Member of Parliament for the County of Ross, Lord Lieutenant of Ross-Shire and Governor General of Barbados. In addition to his long list of achievements, he was also elected a Fellow of the Royal Society and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh for contributions to botany.

As founder of the regiment, it was common for Francis Mackenzie Lord Seaforth to feature on regimental statues and awards for the Seaforth Highlanders. This silver statue has a wooden base with a silver plaque inscribed ‘Presented to Major H Barker, MBE by his brother Officers to mark his 30 years as a Seaforth Highlander. 2nd January 1961.’