Until the eighteenth century, Scotland and England had 
always retained separate political identities. Though they 
shared a monarch from the accession of James I (James 
VI of Scotland), Scotland continued to enjoy a separate 
parliament in Edinburgh. Primarily for religious reasons, 
the Scots were happy to accept William of Orange on 
his accession in 1688, though neither he nor his 
successor, Queen Anne enjoyed happy relations north of 
the border - with Scottish history dominated by a series of 
rebellions in the first half of the eighteenth century.

After a number of proposals it was agreed, in 1705, that it would be to the advantage of both countries if Scotland became part of a new kingdom of Great Britain, under one parliament. The Scottish Parliament was abolished and 45 members for Scottish counties and boroughs were sent to Westminster. The first Parliament of Great Britain met on 23 October 1707.