A cross of St George with the flag of Great Britain in the canton
The flag of Great Britain, often referred to as the King's Colour, Union Flag,[1][2]Union Jack, and British flag (retroactively prefixed as being the "first" such flag, in order to distinguish it from the modern flag of the United Kingdom), was used at sea from 1606 then more generally from 1707 until 1801 as the flag of the Kingdom of Great Britain,[3][4] and is the precursor to the modern Union Jack.
Set down in 1606 by Royal decree of James VI and I, the flag's form combined the flag of the Kingdom of England and flag of the Kingdom of Scotland and was specifically intended for maritime use by vessels of both kingdoms, which since 1603 had shared a single monarch in a personal union following the Union of the Crowns. In 1634, Charles I proclaimed that the flag's use be restricted to vessels of the Navy Royal and Royal Scots Navy, stating that it "be reserved as an ornament proper for Our own Ships and Ships in our immediate Service and Pay, and none other".[5]
The flag was subsequently adopted as the national flag of the unified Kingdom of Great Britain, following the Acts of Union 1707; gaining the status of "the Ensignarmorial of the Kingdom of Great Britain". It was later adopted by land forces; however, the shade of blue of land-based versions appears on contemporary works of art to have been lighter than those intended for maritime use; darker dyes being used at sea for durability.
The flag consists of the red cross of Saint George, patron saint of England, superimposed on the saltire of Saint Andrew, patron saint of Scotland. Its correct proportions are 3:5. The blue field on the flag was sky blue at first; however, over time darker shades of blue were employed to counter the effects of weathering at sea.[6]
In the wake of the personal union between England and Scotland resulting from the Union of the Crowns in 1603, King James instructed his Heralds to draw up designs for a new flag, juxtaposing the St George's Cross and the St Andrew's Saltire:[7]
However, none were acceptable to James, who in 1606 selected the design whereby the cross of Saint George was seen to surmount that of Saint Andrew.[7]
By the King: Whereas, some differences hath arisen between Our subjects of South and North Britaine travelling by Seas, about the bearing of their Flagges: For the avoiding of all contentions hereafter. We have, with the advice of our Council, ordered: That from henceforth all our Subjects of this Isle and Kingdome of Great Britaine, and all our members thereof, shall beare in their main-toppe the Red Crosse, commonly called St. George's Crosse, and the White Crosse, commonly called St. Andrew's Crosse, joyned together according to the forme made by our heralds, and sent by Us to our Admerall to be published to our Subjects: and in their fore-toppe our Subjects of South Britaine shall weare the Red Crosse onely as they were wont, and our Subjects of North Britaine in their fore-toppe the White Crosse onely as they were accustomed.
In objecting to the design of Union Flag favoured by James, a number of owners and masters of merchant vessels in the Kingdom of Scotland raised the issue with John Erskine, 19th Earl of Mar, and were encouraged by him to send a letter of complaint to James VI, via the Privy Council of Scotland, which stated:
Most sacred Soverayne. A greate nomber of the maisteris and awnaris of the schippis of this your Majesteis kingdome hes verie havelie compleint to your Majesteis Counsell that the form and patrone of the flaggis of schippis, send doun heir and commandit to be ressavit and used be the subjectis of boith kingdomes, is very prejudiciall to the fredome and dignitie of this Estate and will gif occasioun of reprotche to this natioun quhairevir the said flage sal happin to be worne beyond sea becaus, as your sacred majestie may persave, the Scottis Croce, callit Sanctandrois Croce is twyse divydit, and the Inglishe Croce, callit Sanct George, haldin haill and drawne through the Scottis Croce, whiche is thairby obscurit and no takin nor merk to be seen of the Scottis Armes. This will breid some heit and miscontentment betwix your Majesteis subjectis, and it is to be ferit that some inconvenientis sall fall out betwix thame, for oure seyfairing men cannot be inducit to ressave that flag as it is set doun. They haif drawne two new drauchtis and patronis as most indifferent for boith kingdomes which they present to the Counsell, and craved our approbatioun of the same; bot we haif reserved that to you Majesteis princelie determination.[8]
Scottish Union Flag depicted in the 1704 edition of The Present State of the Universe.
Although documents accompanying this complaint which contained drafts for alternative designs have been lost, evidence exists, at least on paper, of an unofficial Scottish variant, whereby the Scottish cross was uppermost. There is reason to think that cloth flags of this design were employed during the 17th century for unofficial use on Scottish vessels at sea.[9][10][11]
This flag's design is also described and appears on a colour plate in the 1704 edition of The Present State of the Universe by John Beaumont, which contains as an appendix The Ensigns, Colours or Flags of the Ships at Sea: Belonging to The several Princes and States in the World.[12]
On land, evidence confirming the use of this flag appears in the depiction of Edinburgh Castle by John Slezer, in his series of engravings entitled Theatrum Scotiae, c. 1693. Appearing in later editions of Theatrum Scotiae, the North East View of Edinburgh Castle engraving depicts the Scotch (to use the appropriate adjective of that period) version of the Union Flag flying from the Palace block of the Castle.[14] On The North Prospect of the City of Edenburgh engraving, the flag shown is indistinct.[15]
A manuscript compiled in 1785 by William Fox and in possession of the Flag Research Center includes a full plate showing "the scoth [sic] union" flag. This could imply that there was still some use of a Scottish variant before the addition of the cross of St Patrick to the Union Flag in 1801.[11]
Another early proposal for the Union Jack, consisting of a white St Andrew's saltire with blue fimbriation superimposed over a red St George's cross on a field of white.
A reconstruction of an alternative version of the Union Jack that appears on a painted wooden ceiling boss from Linlithgow Palace (c.1617).
1707 Kingdom of Great Britain
Following the Union of the Crowns in 1603, King James developed the habit of referring to a "Kingdom of Great Britain" and to himself as "King of Great Britain". At his funeral in 1625, the conjoined flag was recorded as the "Banner of the Union of the two Crosses of England and Scotland".[16] However, despite the personal union represented by James and subsequent sovereigns, in practice the Kingdom of England and Kingdom of Scotland continued as separate States, each with its own parliament, laws, currency, religion, etc. for over a century.
James' ambition to rule over a unified Kingdom of Great Britain was finally realised by his great-granddaughter Anne in 1707,[17] with the flag of the new kingdom formally chosen on 17 April 1707, two weeks before the Acts of Union of 1707 were to take effect.
Sir Henry St George, the younger, the Garter Principal King of Arms, having presented several designs of flag to Queen Anne and her Privy Council for consideration,[18] the flag for the soon to be unified Kingdom of Great Britain was chosen. At the suggestion of the Scots representatives, the designs for consideration included that version of Union Jack showing the Cross of Saint Andrew uppermost; identified as being the "Scotts union flagg as said to be used by the Scotts".[19] However, the Queen and her Council approved Sir Henry's original effort, numbered "one".[19]
"Scots union flag as said to be used by the Scots."
Flag design Queen Anne and her Privy Council approved; Sir Henry's original effort, numbered "one"
With the creation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in 1801, the flag of the Kingdom of Great Britain was changed to include the flag of the Kingdom of Ireland; the Saint Patrick's Saltire. Almost all British ensigns and other official designs incorporating the pre-1801 design of flag were altered to reflect the new flag of the United Kingdom, either immediately or once pre-existing stocks were exhausted.
citing Brownlie, Bob (Christmas 2001). "Flags and Pennants". Journal of the Northern Lighthouse Board. OCLC1181103575.
↑"Sierra Leone". Flags, badges & arms of His Majesty's dominions beyond the seas and of territories under His Majesty's protection. Vol.2: Arms. London: HMSO. 1932. p.31. Archived from the original on 2022-01-06. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
↑"Somerset County Flag"(PDF). visitsomerset.com. Princess Anne, Maryland: Somerset County Tourism. Archived from the original(PDF) on 8 September 2015.
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