Originally formed as the Maltese Militia in 1801, the Maltese Militia Coast Artillery was added the same year and in 1802 the Malta Provincial Battalion was raised. In 1815 they were merged to form the Royal Malta Fencible Regiment and re-organised in 1861 to form the Royal Malta Fencible Artillery. They were adopted as a regular corps of the British Army in 1889 becoming the Royal Malta Artillery.