The group of European settlers known for being skilled soldiers who were brought to Georgia to help defend against the Spanish colony to the south were the Highland Scots. These were Scottish Highlanders who were recruited by General James Oglethorpe, the founder of the Georgia colony, in the 1730s. The Highland Scots were known for their military prowess and were brought to Georgia to serve as a buffer between the Spanish colony in Florida and the English colonies to the north. They were also valued for their experience in farming and agriculture, which helped to sustain the new colony.