The Georgia tartan was introduced to the public for the first time in 1982 at the First International Gathering of the Scottish Clans ever held in the United States at the Stone Mountain Highland Games and Scottish Festival. It was designed at the request of the Stone Mountain Highland Games, Inc., by the Scottish Tartan Society in Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland, and presented to Governor George Busbee in 1982 in honor of Georgia’s 250th birthday. It became the official state tartan in 1997. Both the pattern and colors of the Georgia Tartan, designed by Peter McDonald, are a reflection of this state’s strong ties with Scotland as well as the state's natural beauties. In 1746, General Oglethorpe commanded the Highland Independent Company of Foot which wore the Black Watch tartan. Captain John 'Mohr' MacIntosh is also remembered by the MacIntosh red. These men and their regiments helped repulse Spanish invaders to keep Georgia a British Colony during this period. The red and light blue come from the Royal Tartan from the reign of King George II, which was worn by the Royal Company of Archers, the King’s personal bodyguards in Scotland. The green and black are from what once was the “government” pattern worn by Mackintosh’s troops and since has become the tartan worn by the Royal Highland Regiment, “The Black Watch." The other color tributes are the color blue for the beautiful Georgia sky, the red for the rich red Georgia clay, and the green for Georgia's beautiful forests.