How the Darien Scheme Changed the History of Scotland’s Independence

The late 17th century was a hot point for claiming foreign lands in the name of different countries of Europe. Settlements were popping up throughout the Americas, and every passing year saw more merchant ships carrying cargo across the sea. Scotland, too, saw an opportunity in the New World. Nova Scotia and the Carolinas are just two areas where the Scots settled. However, a lesser-known attempt, called the Darien Scheme, sought to establish a new Scottish colony at the Isthmus of Panama. Many people blamed the scheme for the virtual collapse of Scotland’s economy, which led to the 1707 Treaty of Union between England and Scotland – a union that many Scots did not want.

The Backdrop of the 17th Century

In the early 1600s, Scotland had been trading with Asia and Africa. During this time of harsh economic rivalry in Europe, England thought the Scots were getting a bit too wealthy. They slapped down the 1660 Navigation Act. This required that all trade goods to and from England or any English possession or territory in Asia, Africa, or the Americas must be transported in English ships sailed by an English captain with a crew of at least 75 percent Englishmen. This stripped Scotland of its economic independence and led to increased dependence on England.

Ambitions of William Paterson

Infuriated, a Scot named William Paterson eventually found a loophole: they were not prevented from establishing their own colonies. Paterson quickly set up the “Company of Scotland Trading to Africa and the Indies,” also called the Scottish Darien Company. Paterson’s Darien scheme targeted the Isthmus of Panama on the Gulf of Darien. His ambitions first involved setting up a colony they would call Caledonia (symbolic because this was the part of Scotland the Romans could never conquer). Then he planned to establish a trading post that would connect the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Had he been successful, the new colony of Caledonia may have proven to be an extremely lucrative empire.

Fundraising for the Darien Scheme

Raising capital for the Darien scheme was not a problem. Many English and Scots wanted to reap the rewards that the import-export business was then yielding. Unfortunately for Scotland, King William of England reacted to parliamentary pressures by publicly denouncing The Company of Scotland, which caused the English investors to take back their monies.

Related: The Gunpowder Treason Plot to Blow Up British Parliament in 1605

The company had to rely on Scottish investors who came up with a huge sum of money – £400,000 sterling. This is impressive when one considers that Scotland was already wounded by years of wars and famines. The seed money supposedly equaled a fifth of Scotland’s capital, and even commoners cleared out their life savings because they believed wholeheartedly in the purpose of the venture and what it would mean for Scotland should it succeed.

Setting Sail for Darien

Twelve hundred passengers full of hope – all of whom were promised houses and acres of good farmland – sailed in five ships that left Leith near Edinburgh in 1698. William Paterson, his wife, and child were also on this expedition. Forty passengers died of illness between Scotland and Darien. After a four-month journey, they arrived in Panama on November 2, and within two months 32 more people died. Soon after, it became apparent that life was going to be very different than they had expected.

The Darien project immediately incited European countries. England forbid anyone under their power to trade with or assist Caledonia in any way. This meant that the colonists could not obtain any provisions from the English islands in the area, including Jamaica.

Agriculture also proved to be difficult and required time and energy – both of which the Scots were short on since they were starving and dying of illness. Instead of establishing farms, the Caledonians had to resort to setting up a rickety town that they christened New Edinburgh. They also built a fort called Fort St. Andrew.

Relations with the Kuna Indians and Spaniards

The Darien colony needed locally grown items to plant and eat. They sought to trade with the native Kuna Indians, who inhabited the Darien region. However, the colonists discovered that nobody living in a hot and humid area of swamp needed what they had brought to trade with — primarily heavy woolen fabrics and combs. A failed attempt to get more money and emigres from Scotland compounded the tragedies. And to make matters worse, Spain held claim to the area, although they had no presence or settlement there. The Spanish began to take military actions against the settlers to keep their domain.

Although the Kuna despised the Spaniards for their aggression and intent to oppress the Kuna, the indigenous people liked the Scots. They brought plantains and fruits to the Darien colony, but most of that food went to the leaders and sailors living aboard and protecting the ships. It wasn’t enough to feed the ailing colony.

Recently, in an interview with Allan Little of BBC (reference below), a Kuna elder reflected:

In the time of our forefathers … white people came here – Scottish and Spanish people. We liked the Scottish more than the Spanish, for the Spanish attacked us and drove us inland away from the coast and the Scots did not. But there were battles and many ships were sunk.

Abandonment Followed by a Second Fleet

In the heat of June 1699, only seven months after first setting foot in Darien, a vote was taken and it was agreed that the Scots of New Edinburgh would abandon Darien. The remaining colonists would sail to New England.

Murder of Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley of Scotland

“A second fleet [from Scotland] sailed in 1699, not knowing that the colony had already been attacked and burned to the ground by the Spanish, and abandoned by its few survivors” (Allan Little, “The Caribbean Colony that Brought Down Scotland,” BBC News, 2014). Although the new Darien colony attempted to rebuild the fort and huts, the morale was low and the Spanish were threatening.

“The Kuna and Scots co-operated in skirmishes against the Spanish and routed them at the Battle of Toubacanti” (Paul). But the colonists had no military support and, hence, the second Scottish settlement at Darien was “besieged by the Spanish.” The few settlers who survived went back to Scotland in 1700. William Paterson also returned, alone, as his wife and child had perished in Darien. Ultimately, he became a strong proponent of the Treaty of Union and fought for its cause.

Ultimately, 2,000 people died in the venture, and there would be no returns on the huge investment. All seemed lost. Left with seemingly no choice, Scotland signed the “Treaty of Union of the two Kingdoms of Scotland and England.” This was a momentous event in history that effectively destroyed most autonomies that Scotland had previously enjoyed.

The Ugly Aftermath

After the Darien affair, many Europeans felt as though the colonists had brought shame and disgrace to Scotland. Adding fuel to the fire, rumors circulated that bribes had influenced members in the Parliament of Scotland who voted for the Union. Indeed, many public and private investors fell into financial ruin, and England sweetened the deal by agreeing to pay Scotland a fair sum of money as compensation for the Darien failure if Scotland ratified the union. Even today, much of the current literature regarding the Darien failure condemns the leaders of the expedition for poor planning and choices. The understandable bitterness and anger are still palpable in Scotland.

The following is a Scottish folk song referencing the Darien scheme and parliament called, “Such a Parcel of Rogues in a Nation,” written by poet Robert Burns in 1791.

Factors for Thought

There were many factors that led to the outcome of the Darien scheme. Many people feel there was more than merely a withdrawal of support for the Scots at the time. Did the “powers that be” deliberately undermine Scotland’s chance for economic independence? Had it not been for the denial of support, perhaps the lack of proper provisions, such as food and tradable goods, could have been remedied with the assistance of nearby colonies. Maybe with proper military backing for the colonists, the Spanish, already dealing with their own plagues, would have decided Darien wasn’t worth the trouble.

In the years following the Darien affair, the Spanish made many attempts to settle the region. However, constant opposition by the Kuna made it ultimately impossible. In the end, the bold ideas that fueled the Darien scheme eventually led to the building of the Panama Canal. The passage between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans would open up a whole new world for international maritime commerce. Today, somewhere around a million vessels have safely passed through the canal.

References:
“New Caledonia”, Wikipedia, sourced 12/21/16.
“Scotch Colonization”, Celtic Heritage magazine, August/September 1998
Little, Allan, BBC, “The Caribbean Colony that Brought Down Scotland,” sourced 1/4/17.
Wikipedia, sourced 1/4/17.
Paul, Helen Julia, sourced 1/4/17.
Wikipedia, sourced 1/4/17.