¹ the term "united kingdom" was first used in the union with scotland act 1706. however it is generally seen as a descriptive term, indicating that the kingdoms were freely united rather than through conquest. it is not seen as being actual "name" of the new united kingdom, which was (by article one) "great britain". the "united kingdom" as a name is taken to refer to the kingdom that emerged when the kingdom of great britain and kingdom of ireland merged on 1 january 1801.