23 June 1725: The Malt Tax riots break out across Scotland

Rioting erupted in Hamilton and spread across Scotland after excise officials arrived to implement the Malt Tax on this day in 1725.

Soldiers firing on rioters during the Malt Tax riots of 1725
(Image credit: Ken Welsh/Design Pics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

What with the West Lothian question', the Barnett Formula and English votes for English laws', we've all become familiar with the endless bickering over whether or not Scotland pays its way in the Union.

But these arguments are nothing new. In fact, they go right back to the early 18th century when the Union was still very much in its infancy. And it was one such attempt in 1725 to get the Scots to pay more that threatened to break up the Union when it was just 18 years old.

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Chris Carter
Wealth Editor, MoneyWeek

Chris Carter spent three glorious years reading English literature on the beautiful Welsh coast at Aberystwyth University. Graduating in 2005, he left for the University of York to specialise in Renaissance literature for his MA, before returning to his native Twickenham, in southwest London. He joined a Richmond-based recruitment company, where he worked with several clients, including the Queen’s bank, Coutts, as well as the super luxury, Dorchester-owned Coworth Park country house hotel, near Ascot in Berkshire.

Then, in 2011, Chris joined MoneyWeek. Initially working as part of the website production team, Chris soon rose to the lofty heights of wealth editor, overseeing MoneyWeek’s Spending It lifestyle section. Chris travels the globe in pursuit of his work, soaking up the local culture and sampling the very finest in cuisine, hotels and resorts for the magazine’s discerning readership. He also enjoys writing his fortnightly page on collectables, delving into the fascinating world of auctions and art, classic cars, coins, watches, wine and whisky investing.

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