There were two types of grenadier unit in the French army in the Seven Years War. The standing grenadier units came about in this way. In 1744, the militia battalions were allowed grenadier companies. In 1745, these companies (110 in all) were formed into 11 regiments under the name "Grenadiers Royaux". These regiments were known by their colonels' names.

In February 1749, the 48 grenadier companies of the disbanded regiments were formed into 4 brigades of 12 companies each called the "Grenadiers de France". In wartime the "Grenadiers Royaux" supplied men for the "Grenadiers de France" - so these really were "la creme de la creme". The "Grenadiers Royaux" wore plain greyish-white uniforms with white buttons and hat lace. Coat pockets were horizontal with three buttons and a white or silver shoulder-strap was worn on the left shoulder. They wore tricorne hats. The "Grenadiers de France" wore the uniform illustrated in Mollo, "Uniforms of the Seven Years War, but with blue, not red, cuffs. A company cornsisted of - 1 lieutenant; 1 2nd-licutenant; 1 "fourice'; 2 sergeants; 3 corporals; 3 "anspessucles"; 36 grenadiers and 1 drummer. 9 pioneers, 1 sergeant and 1 corporal of pioneers were added in wartime.

These standing grenadier battalions seemed to be left out of the line of battle acting as a reserve (in the Austrian manner). All the "Grenadiers Royaux" and "de France" were placed in de Broglie's corps at Minden, for example.

In the ordinary infantry regiments the grenadiers were organised variously. In French provincial regiments, for example, these were 16 fusilier companies and 1 grenadier company organised as above, per battalion. In German regiments of 8 companies per battalion, each company had 6 grenadiers alongside its 61 fusiliers. In war-time, these grenadiers were grouped into a 48 man company. Swiss regiments had no official grenadier company until 1763.

However, it is clear that some colonels did organise grenadier companies on their own initiative. In the regiment Diesbach, grenadiers certainly wore bearskin caps paid for by the colonel. Other regiments had grenadiers with fur caps I'm sure but I have never seen a list. Auvergne, Royal Lorraine are portrayed as wearing them. However, the usual marks of a grenadier in the French army was a moustache, a sabre and red sword-knot and often red grenades on the turn-backs.

Grenadiers were used as skirmishers often in conjunction with another company of picked men the "piquet" company. This stood on the left of the battalion when in line. Grenadier companies do not seem to have been brigaded together in Europe to my knowledge but I would not be suprised to find they were. Montcalm formed a mobile, elite force under Bougainville during the siege of Quebec which included the grenadier companies of his regular regiments and a "piquet" of each. Grenadiers were also brigaded at the battle of St. Foy in April 1760.