Through the period of the
Union of 1707 until 1830, smuggling was rife throughout
Scotland. Mainly focused around
wine,
gin and
tobacco (although also around
tea and
coffee on which a heavy
duty was paid), smuggling made a significant to the '
black economy'. It is said that so great was the
resistance of the
Scots against the newly introduced
duty paid on
imports, smuggling was scarcely
concealed.
Folklore held smugglers as crafty, daring men who out-witted the Revenue with ingenious plots. In reality, however, the smuggling was often run by community leaders such as lairds (Scottish lords) and other landowners, who left all the 'dirty work' to lower members of the community, who faced public execution if caught.