Dress Act 1746

Dress Act 1746
Act of Parliament
	Parliament of Great Britain
Long title	An act for the more effectual disarming the highlands in Scotland; and for the more effectual securing the peace of the said highlands; and for restraining the use of the highland dress; and for further indemnifying such persons as have acted in the defence of His Majesty's person and government, during the unnatural rebellion; and for indemnifying the judges and other officers of the court of judiciary in Scotland, for not performing the northern circuit in May, one thousand seven hundred and forty six; and for obliging the masters and teachers of private schools in Scotland, and chaplains, tutors and governors of children or youth, to take the oaths to his Majesty, his heirs and successors, and to register the same.
Citation	19 Geo. 2. c. 39
Dates
Royal assent	12 August 1746
Other legislation
Repealed by	Promissory Oaths Act 1871
Status: Repealed

The Dress Act 1746, also known as the Disclothing Act, was part of the Act of Proscription which came into force on 1 August 1746 and made wearing "the Highland Dress" — including the kilt — by men and boys illegal in Scotland north of the Highland line running from Perth in the east to Dumbarton in the west.^[1] The rest of the Act of Proscription reiterated and reinforced the Disarming Act 1715. The Jacobite risings between 1689 and 1746 found their most effective support amongst the Scottish clans, and this act was part of a series of measures attempting to bring the clans under government control. An exemption allowed the kilt to be worn in the army's Highland regiments along with its veterans who had served in the military. The landed gentry were also exempt, being exempt from the entire Act of Proscription.

The law was repealed in 1782. By that time, kilts and tartans were no longer ordinary Highland wear, ended by enforcement of the law. Within two years, Highland aristocrats set up the Highland Society of Edinburgh and soon other clubs followed with aims including promoting "the general use of the ancient Highland dress". This would lead to the Highland pageant of the visit of King George IV to Scotland.

^ Eslea MacDonald, Peter, ed. (2012) [1997]. The 1819 Key Pattern Book: One Hundred Original Tartans (2nd ed.). J. J. Munro Trust. p. 3. ISBN 9780957186507.

[1] Eslea MacDonald, Peter, ed. (2012) [1997]. The 1819 Key Pattern Book: One Hundred Original Tartans (2nd ed.). J. J. Munro Trust. p. 3. ISBN 9780957186507.

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