the acts of union in 1707 united the crowns and parliaments of england and scotland to create (the united kingdom of) great britain. at this time, wales was legally part of the kingdom of england, with representation (since 1536) in the english parliament, so it was included in the union of england and scotland. ireland was a separate kingdom with its own parliament until further acts of union in 1800 joined great britain and ireland to create the united kingdom of great britain and ireland.