British Red Ensign or Red Duster or Queen Anne’s Flag- 1707
The Act of Union united Scotland and England into Great Britain in 1707. That year, a proclamation from Queen Anne combining the English Cross of Saint George with the Scottish Cross of Saint Andrew created the Union Flag. This proclamation also made it quite clear the British Flag belonged to the monarch. Any ship flying the Queen’s colors without the Queen’s permission could be seized. Merchant ships were ordered to fly a red flag with the Union in the upper corner. This Red Ensign became a flag of the British Empire in the 18th century.
As displeasure with the crown grew, colonists began altering Red Ensigns as a sign of protest. Raised in October of 1774, the Taunton Flag had the words “Liberty and Union” sewn onto it. In New York, March 1775, a Union flag was raised with a red field and the words “George Rex and the Liberties of America” on one side and “No Popery” on the other. “George Rex” being a reference to George III’s alleged illegitimate son. Soon after the outbreak of the War for Independence, six white stripes were sewn onto Red Ensigns to create Grand Union Flags. The Grand Union became the flag of the 13 United Colonies.
Sources
Bucchioni, Josh. “Hoist Up the Flag: The British Red Ensign” Colonial Williamsburg (September 2020) https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/learn/deep-dives/hoist-flag-british-ensign/
Hamilton, Schuyler. “The History of the National Flag of the United States of America” pp. 46-52 (1852) Scholar Select
New England Historical Society. “Before Old Glory, there was the Taunton Flag” Retrieved 18 March 2023 from https://newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/before-old-glory-there-was-the-taunton-flag/
Preble, George. “Our Flag, Origin and Progress of the Flag of the United States of America” pp. 136-137, (1872) Kessinger’s Legacy Reprint
Queen Anne of Great Britain
Charles Jervas, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Queen Anne, It’s Her Flag.
The Glorious Revolution which brought co-monarchs William and Mary to the throne of England, ushered in a time of relative stability. When both monarchs died without an heir, Mary’s sickly sister Anne came to the throne in 1702. Two events dominated Queen Anne’s reign, the War of Spanish Succession, and the Act of Union.
The War of Spanish Succession, known in the colonies as Queen Anne’s War, was the second in a series of global wars fought primarily between the France and England. The war resulted in the enlargement of the British Empire and the recognition of the British military as the world’s most formidable fighting force.
The two parliaments, one crown system England and Scotland had operated under for about a century never really worked. King William had struggled to unite the two countries. When he was killed in a riding accident, union became the new Queen Anne’s dilemma. Years of bitter negotiations finally resulted in 25 Articles of Union creating Great Britain. The 1st article combined England’s red Cross of St. George with Scotland’s white Cross of St. Andrew creating the Union Flag.
Back in the early 1600’s, Scotland’s James VI had become England’s James I. He issued a proclamation requiring Royal Navy ships to fly a flag combining the two country’s flags. Other ships were required to fly their own country’s flag. Subjects who did not fly their flag accordingly would answer “at their peril”. James’ son King Charles I issued a flag proclamation with a stronger warning for those who flew his flag against his wishes. Following the 1707 Act of Union, Queen Anne issued the strongest proclamation regarding the Union Flag, threatening to “seize of any ships not obeying this proclamation.” Being a royal flag, the King/Queen’s colors were to be flown by Royal Navy or over the monarch’s castles and forts, and nowhere else.
When Queen Anne died in 1714 without an heir, her closest non-Catholic relative, George came to the throne. King George was the first in a line of four King Georges; the third being the most well know, at least on this side of the pond.
Sources
Flag Institute. “History of the Union Flag” Retrieved 12 March 2023 from https://www.flaginstitute.org/wp/uk-flags/union-flag-history/
Royal Household. “Anne (r. 1702-1714)” Retrieved 20 March 2023 from https://www.royal.uk/queen-anne
Royal Household. “Union Jack”. Retrieved 24 March 2023 from https://www.royal.uk/union-jack
Hamilton, Schuyler. “The History of the National Flag of the United States of America” pp. 47-50 (1852) Scholar Select
Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Connecticut. “Queen Anne's War” Retrieved 20 March 2023 from https://www.colonialwarsct.org/1702.htm
UK Parliament. “Act of Union 1707: Overview” https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/evolutionofparliament/legislativescrutiny/act-of-union-1707/overview/