Act of Union with Ireland (1801)

Study note

In 1801, Ireland was formally united with Great Britain through an Act of Union. This created a single state called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. It is a separate event from the union of England and Scotland, which had already taken place in 1707, and from earlier events such as the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The NHS, by contrast, was not founded until much later, in 1948.

The union of 1801 lasted for over a century, but the situation in Ireland remained difficult. In the early 20th century most of Ireland gained independence, while six counties in the north remained part of the United Kingdom as Northern Ireland. So the key fact for 1801 is that Ireland joined Great Britain to form the United Kingdom.

Memory tip: 1801, Ireland joins, forming the United Kingdom.