No One Provokes Me With Impunity
In 1725, following the Jacobite rebellion of 1715, General George Wade was authorized by George I to form six "watch" companies to patrol the Highlands of Scotland, three from Clan Campbell, one from Clan Fraser of Lovat, one from Clan Munro and one from Clan Grant. These were to be "employed in disarming the Highlanders, preventing depredations, bringing criminals to justice, and hindering rebels and attainted persons from inhabiting that part of the kingdom." The force was known in Gaelic as Am Freiceadan Dubh, "the dark" or "black watch." Some believe the term "black" came from the Hanovarian black cockade.
It was worn in the proscribed period (1746-1782), when highland dress was banned by an Act of Parliament by Government servants and regiments in American wars. Thus it was called the 'Government' or 'Hanoverian' tartan.
It has since been associated with Campbell because of their role in leading the Black Watch and other Government forces. Being a subdued tartan, with benefits for camouflage rather than display, it perhaps influenced the later creation of Hunting Tartans in the late 1800s.
