The Derbyshire Blues were a

militia A militia () is generally an army or some other fighting organization of non-professional soldiers, citizens of a country, or subjects of a state, who may perform military service during a time of need, as opposed to a professional force of r ...

regiment raised in

Derby Derby ( ) is a city and unitary authority area in Derbyshire, England. It lies on the banks of the River Derwent in the south of Derbyshire, which is in the East Midlands Region. It was traditionally the county town of Derbyshire. Derby g ...

by the Duke of Devonshire in response to the invasion by Charles Edward Stuart ('Bonnie Prince Charlie') in 1745. As Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire, the Duke had responsibility for raising a militia in defence of the realm, and as a member of the Whig aristocracy he was opposed to any attempt to usurp King George II. The

Militia Act 1745 The Militia Act 1745 ( 19 Geo. 2. c. 2) was an Act of Parliament of the Parliament of Great Britain passed in 1745 and formally repealed in 1867. It made provision for calling out the militia in England during the Second Jacobite Rising. The Ac ...

made provision for calling out the militia in England during the Jacobite rising, and on 13 September 1745 the Government sent letters directing the lord-lieutenants of counties in England and Wales to call out the militia. A meeting had taken place on 28 September at the George Inn, a coaching inn in Iron Gate, "to consider of such measures as are fit to be taken for the support of the Royal Person and government of H. M. King George, and our happy constitution in Church and State, at a time when rebellion is carrying on in favour of a Popish Pretender." The name of the militia is derived from the colour of their blue uniform, intended to distinguish the militia from regular soldiers in red uniform. The Duke arrived in Derby from Chatsworth with his son, the Marquess of Hartington, towards the end of November 1745 (the Jacobites had entered Preston on the 26th), and used the George Inn as his headquarters. He reviewed 600 men in two regiments of 300 men each, raised by subscription by the gentlemen of Derby and Derbyshire, and 120 men raised and paid for by the Duke himself. The regiments were led by Sir Nathaniel Curzon and the Marquess of Hartington. However, these troops withdrew towards Nottingham on 3 December on the news that Charles Edward Stuart had entered Ashbourne, approximately 13 miles away, with 9000 men. When the prince arrived in Derby on 4 December, he called at the inn and demanded

billet A billet is a living-quarters to which a soldier is assigned to sleep. Historically, a billet was a private dwelling that was required to accept the soldier. Soldiers are generally billeted in barracks or garrisons when not on combat duty, alth ...

s for his troops. The event is re-enacted every year on the anniversary of the Prince's arrival.

The George Inn

The inn is now a

public house A pub (short for public house) is a kind of drinking establishment which is licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises. The term ''public house'' first appeared in the United Kingdom in late 17th century, and wa ...

called "Jorrocks", having had several different names since the 1980s. First, it changed from "The George" to "Mr. Jorrocks", only to be renamed "Lafferty’s" during a fad period for

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

theme pubs, and "Mr Jorrocks" for a while in the 2000s, before taking on its current name.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Derbyshire Blues History of Derby Military units and formations established in 1745 1745 establishments in England