the union jack history

In the 2016 Reed's Nautical Almanac, the only entry where this might appear, section 5.21, covering Flag Etiquette, does not include this statement. The Union Flag or Union Jack Flag is the official flag of the UK which includes Northern Ireland. The proposal was universally met with opposition and was denounced by MSP Phil Gallie as "ridiculous tokenism [that] would do nothing to stamp out racism". In real-world history the British military vessels were required to fly the Union Jack from the jackstaff at the head of the bowsprit. When the Union of South Africa was established in 1910, the Union Jack was treated as its official flag. The exception was flags that had flown in action: these could be framed and kept on board, or transferred to a "suitable place", such as a museum (ADM 1/8567/245). Nevertheless, a convention was soon established which accords most closely with the description. Also in the United States, the Union Flag of 1606 is incorporated into the flag of Baton Rouge, the capital city of Louisiana. Oral Answers. When the first flag was established, it was just referred to as the British Flag. And except for a symbolic 14-month period during the 1976 U.S. It is often displayed upside down inadvertently—even on commercially-made hand waving flags. "[71], On 5 February 2008, Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell introduced the 'Union Flag Bill' as a private member's bill under the 10 Minute Rule in the House of Commons. The Union Flag was found in the canton (upper flagstaff-side quarter) of the flags of many colonies of Britain, while the field (background) of their flags was the colour of the naval ensign flown by the particular Royal Navy squadron that patrolled that region of the world. The Union Jack was used by the United States in its first flag, the Grand Union Flag. [107], The Union Jack remains one of the most instantly-recognised flags in the world. Winston Churchill who served as the prime minister of UK from 1940 to 1945 also referred to the flag as the Union Jack. Australian Civil Aviation Ensign (1935-1948), Royal Australian Air Force Ensign (1948-1982), The flag in a white border occasionally seen on merchant ships was sometimes referred to as the Pilot Jack. Jack comes from the Latin for James, Jacobus. The origins of the earlier flag of Great Britain date back to 1606. Die Farben der Union Flag entsprechen den Werten der folgenden Tabelle. The flag is also flown beside Customs House in Loftus Street, Sydney, to mark the approximate location at which Captain Phillip first raised the Union Jack, and claimed New South Wales in 1788. To remove all reference to Ireland from the present Union Jack and Royal Arms would be vastly more expensive.[57]. This is due to different specifications for different types of media (for example, screen and print). [95], Several individuals residing in countries not a part of the Commonwealth of Nations have adopted the Union Flag as a flag of protest. "[30], The Union Jack is normally twice as long as it is tall, a ratio of 1:2. [85], The predecessor to the Union Jack, the flag of Great Britain, has been used in British colonies in Canada since its adoption in 1707. The Basque Country's flag, the Ikurriña, is also loosely based on the Union Jack, reflecting the significant commercial ties between Bilbao and Britain at the time the Ikurriña was designed in 1894. The result was the Union Jack. ", "We Stand on Guard for Whom? Similar ensigns are used by other countries (such as New Zealand and Australia) with the Union Flag in the canton. [15], However, the authoritative A Complete Guide to Heraldry published in 1909 by Arthur Charles Fox-Davies uses the term "Union Jack".[16]. The term "Union Jack" refers to the flag being a union between three national flags. 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.[40]. Both terms are historically correct in the description of the national flag of the UK. [46] One version showed St George's cross with St Andrew's cross in the canton, and another version placed the two crosses side by side. Ireland had been under English control since 1171 but had always stayed as a kingdom in personal union with the English crown. The drawing at the end of this letter was deliberately facetious, teasing her for going down-market, and in the accompanying letter he wrote, "Your title 'The Anglo Saxon' with its motto 'Blood is thicker than water' only needs the Union Jack & the Star Spangled Banner crossed on the cover to be suited to one of Harmsworth’s cheap Imperialist productions."[23][relevant? Other Commonwealth countries (such as India and Jamaica) may follow similar ensign etiquette as the UK, replacing the Union Flag with their own national flag. Irish National Flag The Union Flag, created by James in 1606, continued in use as a purely symbolic banner until 1707. Image based on the reproduction of Draft C published in “Perrin” plate IV. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions © 2020 worldatlas.com, The Story Of The Union Jack: The National Flag Of The United Kingdom. [33], The colour specifications for the colours Union Jack (royal) blue, Union Flag red and white are:[22]. The Admiralty in 1864 settled all official flags at proportions of 1:2, but the relative widths of the crosses remained unspecified, with the above conventions becoming standardised in the 20th century. The concept of a Union Flag matured in 1603 when James VI of Scotland inherited the throne of England as James I. It represents the union of different countries and the growth of a family of nations whose influence extends far beyond the British Isles. Union Jack at crossing sends mixed message - Ottawa - CBC News", "Flags of New Zealand Page 3 - Union Jack", "Italian beach operators hoist British flag in protest at EU law", "Flag-waving Grandma Wong gives Hong Kong protesters lesson in endurance", "Colonial nostalgia rules in Hong Kong as young refuse to accept China's authority", "Explainer: The conflicting messages behind protesters' use of the colonial Hong Kong flag", "Are Hong Kong protesters pro-American or British when they wave the US and UK flags? The British Army's flag is the Union Jack, but in 1938, a "British Army Non-Ceremonial Flag" was devised, featuring a lion on crossed blades with the St Edward's Crown on a red background. It was later blamed on the actions of a researcher, who resigned yet claimed that the comment had been approved by White. The continued use of the Union Jack as national flag became an issue in the 1920s, when the government proposed to introduce a National Flag of the Union. [5][6][note 2]. [9] By 1627 a small Union Jack was commonly flown in this position. The Union Flag is sometimes known as the Union Jack after its creator, James I of England, James VI of Scots. It is the British flag. [32] In the 19th century, the Union flag was defined by the same blazon but could vary in its geometrical proportions. Civilian use is permitted on land, but use of the unmodified flag at sea is restricted to military vessels. The Bill sought to formalise the position of the Union Flag as the national flag of the UK in law, to remove legal obstacles to its regular display and to officially recognise the name 'Union Jack' as having equal status with 'Union Flag'. Its first recorded recognition as a national flag came in 1908, when it was stated in Parliament that "the Union Jack should be regarded as the National flag". The claim that the term Union Jack properly refers only to naval usage has been disputed, following historical investigations by the Flag Institute in 2013. Some years ago there was a demand from Irish quarters that the blue ground of the golden harp on the royal standard should be changed to green. A YouGov poll showed less than half of the UK population knows the history or even how to correctly fly the Union Flag … which may also be called the Union Jack. The three-component crosses that make up the Union Flag are sized as follows: The crosses and fimbriations retain their thickness relative to the flag's height whether they are shown with a ratio of 3:5 or 1:2. The first "Jack" came into use when James VI of Scotland became king also of England in 1603. [73] While consultation on new guidelines is under way, the decision to fly the flag may be made by each government department. On the plaque it is referred to as the "Jack of Queen Anne". [21], The size and power of the Royal Navy internationally at the time could also explain why the flag was named the "Union Jack"; considering the navy was so widely utilised and renowned by the United Kingdom and colonies, it is possible that the term jack occurred because of its regular use on all British ships using the jackstaff (a flag pole attached to the bow of a ship). Since she died childless and was unmarried, the crown was given to James VI who was her cousin and also the king of Scotland. According to one story, the King of Hawaii asked the British mariner, George Vancouver, during a stop in Lahaina, what the piece of cloth flying from his ship was. It is so called because it combines the crosses of the three countries united under one Sovereign - the kingdoms of England and Wales, of Scotland and of Ireland (although since 1921 only Northern Ireland has been part of the United Kingdom). [96], The Union Flag was formerly used in Hong Kong when it was a British Dependent Territory. A Reading Comprehension to be used after a CLIL lesson on Geography. The Queen's Harbour Master's flag, like the Pilot Jack, is a 1:2 flag that contains a white-bordered Union Flag that is longer than 1:2. Union Jack is incorporated by four former British colonies as a part of their national flags. What Is The Meaning Behind The Colors of The Flag of The United Kingdom? Honours and Salutes. This royal flag was, at first, to be used only at sea on civil and military ships of both England and Scotland, whereas land forces continued to use their respective national banners. The Union Jack has been in existence since 1606, when England and Scotland merged, but changed to its current form in 1801 when Ireland joined the United Kingdom. However, in the 2010s, the Union Flag, along with the colonial flag of Hong Kong began to see use by supporters of the pro-democracy camp during the 2014 Hong Kong protests, and the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests. There was some speculation on the matter in British dominions also, with one New Zealand paper reporting that: ...the removal of the cross of St. Patrick Cross after 120 years will transform the appearance of the flag. [47] 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. No law has been passed making the Union Jack the national flag of the United Kingdom: it has become one through precedent. The flag does not have reflection symmetry due to the slight pinwheeling of the St Patrick's and St Andrew's crosses, technically the counterchange of saltires. The current design of the flag dates back to 1801 during the Royal Decree after the union of the England and Ireland. [92][93] This dual arrangement was effective from 31 May 1928. The Cross of St. George was to be flown from the foremasts of the English ships, while the Cross of St. Andrew was to be flown form the foremasts of the Scottish ships. It was then adopted by land forces as well, although the blue field used on land-based versions more closely resembled that of the blue of the flag of Scotland. [83] Although the Australian blue ensign replaced the Union Jack as the flag of Australia, Australian prime minister Robert Menzies reassured Australians that the Union Flag would be flown together with the Australian national flag "on notable occasions". The flag was also used by the US in its first flag. [94][93], Under these arrangements, the Union Jack was subordinate to the National Flag. The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. In 1606 the first Union Flag appeared. The Union Jack also appears in flags of some of the nations and territories that were under the dominion of the British. The Union will have both old and new superheroes within it, including British hero Union Jack and a major new character Britannia who will lead the new team in its fight against the enemies they will encounter. The flag was deliberately designed with the Irish saltire slightly depressed at the hoist end to reflect the earlier union with Scotland, giving as it were seniority to the Saint Andrew's cross. In real-world history the British military vessels were required to fly the Union Jack from the jackstaff at the head of the bowsprit. Heraldry experts say that alterations in arms are very expensive. Union Jack. A painted wooden ceiling boss from Linlithgow Palace, dated to about 1617, depicts the Scottish royal unicorn holding a flag where a blue Saltire surmounts the red cross of St. George. The Union Flag became the flag of New Zealand after the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in February 1840, replacing the flag used by the United Tribes of New Zealand. Radburn, A. The flag of the Province of British Columbia, Canada, The flag of the Province of Ontario, Canada, The flag of the Province of Manitoba, Canada, The flag of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, The flag of the British Indian Ocean Territory, The flag of the United States (1775–1777) later named the Grand Union Flag, The flag of the United States of the Ionian Islands (1815–1864), The flag of the Tamatave Kingdom (1822–1828), The flag of the Cook Islands Federation (1893–1901), The flag of British Heligoland (1807–1890), 1943 version of the flag of Malta until 1964, 1957 version of the Canadian civil ensign, used until 1965, The flag of British Trinidad and Tobago (1958–1962), Oranje-blanje-blou, or the flag of South Africa (1928–1994), The flag of Dominion of Newfoundland (1907-1931). The thin white stripe separating the red crosses from the blue fields is in line with the requirements of the rule of tincture where some colors like red and blue must be separate from each other. If anything the jack-staff is named after the Union Jack - and not the other way around! A "jack" is a small flag flown on a ship's bowsprit, which was the first place the Union Jack was commonly displayed. After the British referendum on membership of the European Union resulted in a vote to leave, the Union Flag had become a symbol of euroscepticism in Italy. [74], The current flag days where the Union Flag should be flown from government buildings throughout the UK are:[75], In addition, the Union Flag should be flown in the following areas on specified days:[75]. In 1801, King George proclaimed the new flag as the Union Flag. In 1980, the flag of Newfoundland was adopted as the new provincial flag, with the design for the new flag of Newfoundland being derived from the Union Flag. Because the Union Flag is not symmetric, many people unknowingly hang it upside down - so here's a handy guide, read on. Within the Almanac, neither the Union Flag nor the Union Jack are included pictorially or mentioned by name. [62] The campaign is now defunct. The Jack – A small flag worn on a jackstaff on the stem of Naval Vessels. [8] The flag combines aspects of three older national flags: the red cross of St George for the Kingdom of England, the white saltire of St Andrew for Scotland and the red saltire of St Patrick to represent Ireland. [28], In the Chinese language, the flag has the nickname Rice-Character Flag (米字旗; Mandarin Pinyin: mǐzìqí, Cantonese Jyutping: mai5zi6kei4), since the pattern looks like the Chinese character for "rice" (米).[29]. [94][93], The flying of the Union Jack alongside the National Flag ended on 6 April 1957. From early in its life the Admiralty itself frequently referred to the flag as the Union Jack, whatever its use, and in 1902 an Admiralty circular announced that Their Lordships had decided that either name could be used officially. The ground of the current Union Flag is a deep "navy" blue (Pantone 280), which can be traced to the colour used for the Blue Ensign of the Royal Navy's historic "Blue Squadron". [90][91] However, the Union Flag continued to see tandem use with the national flag of New Zealand into the 1950s.[90]. [22] This fimbriation is repeated for symmetry on the white portion of the saltire, which thereby appears wider than the red portion. The Union Jack, or Union Flag, is the national flag of the United Kingdom.The flag also has official status in Canada, by parliamentary resolution, where it is known as the Royal Union Flag. The royal flag was meant for civil and military ship of both kingdoms on sea only while the land forces were to continue using their respective flags. The original flag appears in the canton of the Commissioners' Ensign of the Northern Lighthouse Board. In 1606, King James VI ordered for the creation of a flag which bore the crosses of both St George and St Andrew. Unauthorised use of the flag in the 17th century to avoid paying harbour duties – a privilege restricted to naval ships – caused James's successor, Charles I, to order that use of the flag on naval vessels be restricted to His Majesty's ships "upon pain of Our high displeasure. It tells the story of the Union Jack. argent or silver). The Union Jack was introduced into South Africa in 1795, and except for the period 1803-06, it was an official flag until 1957. National flag of the United Kingdom.The earl of Nottingham's designs after the accession of James I and VI yielded to the 1606 superimposition of the red cross of St George (), bordered by its own white field, upon the saltire of St Andrew on a blue field.An Irish harp at the centre was added by Cromwell but withdrawn after the Restoration. Miss McCaul’s tireless fundraising efforts began in 1903 with concerts, entertainment and events throughout the country. The UK has several national symbols some of which are unique to its constituent countries. The Union Jack 1. Why is the British Flag Called the Union Jack? The history of the Union Jack started out with England alone and was eventually borne out by its conquests of Scotland in 1707 and merging with Ireland in 1801. [86] The new maple leaf flag was approved by the Parliament of Canada on 17 December 1964. [83] Section 8 of that Flag Act also specified that the formalization of the Australian blue ensign as the national flag did "not affect the right or privilege of a person to fly the Union Jack. The Hawaiian king then adopted and flew the flag as a symbol of his own royal authority not recognising its national derivation. [20], It is often stated that a flag upside down is a form of distress signal or even a deliberate insult. The Union Jack is a fine expression of unity as well as diversity. The Union Flag also appears in the canton (upper flagstaff-side quarter) of the flags of several nations and territories that are former British possessions or dominions, as well as the state flag of Hawaii. The Union Jack is a combination of some other very historical flags.It started off as St. George's red cross flag in 1270. A thin white stripe, or fimbriation, separates the red cross from the blue field, in accordance with heraldry's rule of tincture where colours (like red and blue) must be separated from each other by metals (like white, i.e. All administrative regions and territories of the United Kingdom fly the Union Jack in some form, with the exception of Gibraltar (other than the government ensign). No unique name was given to it during the royal proclamation. What Is The Meaning Behind The Colors of The Flag of The United Kingdom? No parliamentary action would be necessary. This is counterchanged with the saltire of St Andrew, such that the white always follows the red clockwise. It will certainly become a flag under which great victories were won in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, but to most minds the sentimental loss will be great. Jason Kenney, PC, MP, Secretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity) on Commonwealth Day", "UNION JACK - discussion on BBC Broadcasting House", The World’s Most Expensive Union Jack Sells For £384K, "Union Jack: Do You Know The Correct Way Up? In 1606, it was combined with the cross saltire of … It is called the Union Flag because the United Kingdom is a union England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The flag has been embroidered on various Reebok equipment as a mark of the brand's British origin,[114] and the Reebok Union Jack has been referred to as a brand icon. The cross of England’s patron saint had developed as a national symbol of England from 1277 onward and was borne on armour, clothing and small flags. The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Probably it will be found that the deletion is not absolutely necessary. This version of the Union Jack is also shown in the canton of the Grand Union Flag (also known as the Congress Flag, the First Navy Ensign, the Cambridge Flag and the Continental Colours), the first widely used flag of the United States, slowly phased out after 1777. The Union flag flying above Downing Street, The Union flag flying along the River Thames in London in 2016, Orangemen parading in Belfast, Northern Ireland, The colours on British airways parked at London Heathrow Airport. These colonies include New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, and Tuvalu. All of the coloured ensigns contain the union flag as part of the design. Bicentennial celebrations, it was in … Along with the national flag, many other Australian flags retain the use of the Union Jack, including the Royal Australian Navy Ensign (also known as the Australian White Ensign), the Royal Australian Air Force Ensign, the Australian Red Ensign (for use by merchant and private vessels), and the Australian Civil Aviation Ensign. [31], Flags that have the Union Jack in the canton should always be 1:2 to preserve the square fly area. It may come from the 'jack-et' of the English or Scottish soldiers, or from the name of James I who originated the first union in 1603. When the Anglo-Irish Treaty was concluded on 6 December 1921 and the creation of the new Irish Free State was an imminent prospect, the question arose as to whether the cross of Saint Patrick should remain in the Union Jack. The current flag's design has been in use since 1801. A book[clarification needed] issued to British consuls in 1855 states that the white bordered Union Flag is to be hoisted for a pilot. The 1910–1928 flag was a Red Ensign with the Union coat of arms in the fly. In 2008, MP Andrew Rosindell proposed a Ten Minute Rule bill to standardise the design of the flag at 3:5, but the bill did not proceed past the first reading. The history behind the Union Jack has been one of gradual evolution of the flag as the relationships between the four 'nations' of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland (now just Northern Ireland) have developed over time. "Union Flag" redirects here. Commonly the Union Flag is used on computer software and Internet pages as an icon representing a choice of the English language where a choice among multiple languages may be presented to the user, though the American flag is also commonly used for this purpose. [88], The parliamentary resolution requires the Royal Union Flag to be flown alongside the flag of Canada (if there are at least two flag poles available) at federal government buildings, federally-operated airports, military installations, at the masthead of Royal Canadian Navy ships within Canadian waters, and other appropriate establishments on Commonwealth Day, Victoria Day (the monarch's official birthday in Canada), 11 December (the anniversary of the enactment of the Statute of Westminster 1931), and when otherwise instructed to do so by the National Defence Headquarters. [99], The use of foreign flags at the protests, including the Union Flag, has been cited multiple times by the central government of China as evidence for their claim that foreign interference is steering the protests in Hong Kong against the central government. In 1603, James VI of Scotland inherited the English and Irish thrones (as James I), thereby uniting the crowns of England, Scotland and Ireland (which remained separate states) in a personal union. [9][14], Notwithstanding Their Lordships' circular of 1902, by 1913 the Admiralty described the "Union Flag" and added in a footnote that 'A Jack is a Flag to be flown only on the "Jack" Staff'. By 1620s, a small union flag was flown in the position of the maritime bow. [4] Additionally, it is used as an official flag in some of the smaller British overseas territories. The origin of the flag of the Great Britain dates back to 1606 when James VI united England and Scotland. The word "jack" was in use before 1600 to describe the maritime bow flag. In this way, the kingdoms of Scotland and England were united in the person of James (though they were officially united in 1707).. Learn more about the 400-year history of the national flag of the United Kingdom: the Union Flag (or Union Jack). In 2003, a private individual started a campaign – dubbed "reflag" or "Union Black" – to ntroduce black stripes in the Union Jack in order to represent the increasing diversity in the United Kingdom. When a ship is underway, the Union Jack is only flown from the jackstaff when the ship is dressed for a special occasion, such as the Queen's official birthday. The New York Times reported that on 22 January 1922: At the College of Arms it was stated that certain modifications were under consideration and that if any action were taken it would be done by the King in Council. There’s a Right Way to Display It. [86], In 1964, the prime minister of Canada, Lester B. Pearson, introduced plans to replace the Union Flag with a new national flag, spurring the Great Canadian Flag Debate. 1902 [90] The issue of flying the flag of the United Tribes alongside the Union Jack, as a symbol of their equal standing with the colonial government, served as a factor that led to the Flagstaff War, led by Ngāpuhi chief Hōne Heke. [115] Many music artists have used the Union Jack, ranging from rock artists The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Jam, Sex Pistols, David Bowie, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Freddie Mercury, Morrissey, Oasis, Iron Maiden, and Def Leppard, to the pop girl group the Spice Girls. The Commissioners' flag of the Northern Lighthouse Board continues to use the pre-1801 design in the canton. La bandiera del Regno Unito (comunemente Union Flag o Union Jack) fu adottata nel 1801 in seguito all'atto di unione con il quale il Regno di Gran Bretagna e il Regno d'Irlanda si univano a formare il Regno Unito di Gran Bretagna e Irlanda.Derivata da una versione precedente adottata nel 1606, è anche stata la bandiera rappresentativa dell'Impero britannico. England and Scotland now shared the same monarch under what was known as a union of the crowns.". Bicentennial celebrations, it was in … The HBC jack is no longer in use and replaced with a corporate flag featuring the company's coat of arms. The Largest Shopping Malls In The United Kingdom, The Most Popular Sports in the United Kingdom, The Busiest Cargo Ports in the United Kingdom, Types Of Crimes By Number Of Offenses In The US. Thus, there is a correct side up. She f… – Cross of St. Patrick on British Flag", "Rebranding puts black marks against UK flag", "The new face of Britain Flag poll results", "What would the union jack look like if the Scottish bit were removed? Whether the term Union Jack applies only when used as a jack flag on a ship is a matter of debate. However, Section 2 regards the "British flag", and states that "The flag which every British ship is entitled to fly is the Red Ensign (without any defacement or modification) and, subject to (a warrant from Her Majesty or from the Secretary of State, or an Order of Council from her Majesty regarding a defaced Red Ensign), no other colours.

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