Lord Seaforth, founder of the Seaforth Highlanders in 1778. A photo of a painting. Kenneth Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Seaforth FRS (15 January 1744 – 27 August 1781) was a British peer and politician and Chief of the Highland Clan Mackenzie. Mackenzie was the son of Kenneth Mackenzie, Lord Fortrose (died 1761) by Mary, the eldest daughter of Alexander Stewart, 6th Earl of Galloway. His paternal grandfather was the attainted William Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Seaforth, whose estates he repurchased from the government. The Earls of Seaforth descended from the ancient family of Mackenzie of Kintail. Mackenzie was created Viscount Fortrose and Baron Ardelve in the Peerage of Ireland on 18 November 1766. He was a Member of Parliament for Caithness from 1768 to 1774. On 3 December 1771, he was created Earl of Seaforth (a new peerage, also in the Peerage of Ireland). On 12 November 1772, Mackenzie was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. He was commissioned lieutenant-colonel and raised a regiment, the Seaforth (Highland) Regiment in 1778. He sailed with them to the East Indies, but died at sea in 1781.He was succeeded as Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant by Thomas Frederick Mackenzie Humberston.