The Dress Act 1746 was part of the Act of Proscription which came into force on 1 August 1746 and made wearing "the

Highland Dress Highland dress is the traditional, regional dress of the Highlands and Isles of Scotland. It is often characterised by tartan (''plaid'' in North America). Specific designs of shirt, jacket, bodice and headwear may also be worn along with cla ...

" — including the

kilt A kilt ( gd, fèileadh ; Irish: ''féileadh'') is a garment resembling a wrap-around knee-length skirt, made of twill woven worsted wool with heavy pleats at the sides and back and traditionally a tartan pattern. Originating in the Scottish ...

— illegal in

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a Anglo-Scottish border, border with England to the southeast ...

as well as reiterating the Disarming Act. The

Jacobite Risings , war = , image = Prince James Francis Edward Stuart by Louis Gabriel Blanchet.jpg , image_size = 150px , caption = James Francis Edward Stuart, Jacobite claimant between 1701 and 1766 , active ...

between 1689 and 1746 found their most effective support amongst the

Scottish clan A Scottish clan (from Gaelic , literally 'children', more broadly 'kindred') is a kinship group among the Scottish people. Clans give a sense of shared identity and descent to members, and in modern times have an official structure recognised ...

s, and this act was part of a series of measures attempting to bring the clans under government control. An exemption allowed the kilt to be worn in the army along with its veterans who have served in the military , continuing the tradition established by the

Black Watch The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 SCOTS) is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The regiment was created as part of the Childers Reforms in 1881, when the 42nd (Royal Highland) Regime ...

regiment. The law was repealed in 1782. By that time kilts and tartans were no longer ordinary Highland wear, ended by enforcement of the law and by the circumstances of the Highland clearances, but within two years Highland aristocrats set up the Highland Society of Edinburgh and soon other clubs followed with aims including promoting "the general use of the ancient Highland dress". This would lead to the Highland pageant of the

visit of King George IV to Scotland The visit of George IV to Scotland in 1822 was the first visit of a reigning monarch to Scotland in nearly two centuries, the last being by King Charles II for his Scottish coronation in 1651. Government ministers had pressed the King to bring ...

The act

Bagpipes at the Strawberry Festival (5798097073) (2)

''Abolition and Proscription of the Highland Dress 19 George II, Chap. 39, Sec. 17, 1746:''

Repeal

On 1 July 1782 royal assent was given to ''Repeal of the Act Proscribing the Wearing of Highland Dress 22 George III, Chap. 63, 1782'' and a proclamation issued in Gaelic and English announced:

References

External links

Act Against the Highland Dress
{{UK legislation History of the Scottish Highlands Political history of Scotland Acts of the Parliament of Great Britain concerning Scotland 1746 in law 1746 in Great Britain 1746 in Scotland Clothing controversies

The act

Repeal

See also

References

External links