ABSTRACT
In an attempt to quell unrest and reach a lasting settlement, negotiations were undertaken towards establishing political union between Ireland and England. The British Prime Minister, William Pitt, promised full Catholic emancipation. The resulting Act of Union 1800, which came into effect on 1 January 1801, effected the union between Ireland and England on the theoretical basis of equal independence for the two countries. The Kingdom of Ireland and the Kingdom of Great Britain were united under the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Irish interests were to be represented in the United Kingdom’s House of Lords by 28 Irish peers and four bishops. Representation in the House of Commons was by 100 Irish members. The House of Lords of the United Kingdom was the court of last resort. Demands for the repeal of the Act of Union were soon to be heard from Catholics when the promised emancipation was blocked by George III (1738-1820) – note that the King’s veto resulted in Pitt’s resignation – and demands made for reforms in relation to land law and education. These claims, in turn, were resisted by Protestants who feared that dissolution of the union and a revived Irish Parliament would favour the Catholics.
