The 16^th Foot or Bedfordshire Regiment was raised in October 1688 by James II in an effort to muster loyal regiments and thereby counter the threat from William of Orange. The regiment was raised by Colonel Archibald Douglas at Reading, one of twelve regiments raised at the time. The regiment was known by the names of its successive colonels until numbered 16^th Regiment of Foot in 1751, it was then renamed again in 1782 as the 16^th (Buckinghamshire) Foot and then in 1809 as the 16^th (Bedfordshire) Regiment of Foot, Buckinghamshire became the 14^th (Buckinghamshire) Regiment. It only became known truly as the Bedfordshire Regiment in 1881 split into the 1^st and 2^nd Battalions of the Bedfordshire Regiment. The 3^rd Battalion was created from the Bedford Militia and the 4^th Battalion the Hertford Militia. In 1919 it then became the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment which, in 1958, was amalgamated with the Essex Regiment to become the 3^rd East Anglian Regiment (16^th/44^th Foot). This was subsequently redesignated in 1964 and again in 1968 to become the 3^rd Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment and subsequently renamed, in 1980, the 3^rd Battalion (Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Essex). In 1992 it was disbanded.

Archibald Douglas was an officer in the Royal Scots, from whom the nucleus of the regiment were formed.

When the Prince of Orange takes over the throne from James II (James VII of Scotland), Douglas refuses to serve under the new King and Robert Hodges is given command of the regiment. Just six other officers take the oath with Hodges, including Hans Hamilton who would rise to command the regiment from 1713.

The regiment took part in the Battle of Namur, during King William's War of 1689-1697. During the War of Spanish Succession (1701-1714), the regiment distinguished itself, receiving battle honors at Blenheim in 1704, Ramilies in 1706, Oudenarde in 1708, and Malplaquet in 1709. In 1747, the regiment was ranked as the 16th Foot and became the 16th Regiment of Foot in July of 1751.

The 16th Regiment of Foot arrived in New York in 1767. The regiment was immediately sent to Florida where it remained until the outbreak of the American Revolution. In 1779, the 16th Foot participated in the defense of Baton Rouge (Louisiana) and the defense of Savannah, Georgia. In 1781, the regiment returned to Florida, taking part in the siege of Pensacola before returning to England in March of the following year.

In 1688 Colonel Archibald Douglas raised a regiment which in 1751 formally became the 16th Regiment of Foot reflecting its seniority within the infantry. In 1782 it gained the county title of Buckinghamshire, but in 1809 the affiliation of the 16th was changed to Bedfordshire. A second battalion was raised in 1858. Under the Cardwell reforms of 1881 the regiment became the Bedfordshire Regiment. In 1919 the title was changed to the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment. 

See also:
•  Archibald Douglas, an article awaiting editing and re-writing