Great Britain

Great Britain is the name for the island that comprises England, Scotland, and Wales. The term came into official use in 1603, when King James I (who was also James VI of Scotland) acceded to the throne of England and Wales. Scotland joined this legislative union in 1707. The United Kingdom is a political unit that includes these countries and Northern Ireland. The British Isles is a geographical term that refers to the United Kingdom, Ireland, and surrounding smaller islands such as the Hebrides and the Channel Islands.