The origins of Scottish Orangeism are traceable back to the Irish Rebellion of 1798, inspired by the French Revolution. Scottish Soldiers serving with Fencible regiments, as well as the Regulars, were sent to Ireland to assist in defending against the rebellion. In this task they often served alongside Orange Yeomanry, the Order having been formed less than three years previously to band together loyal men in mutual protection of religion and country.

The first Charter or Warrants within the Scottish regiments were granted to the Breadalbane Fencibles (No.346) and the Argyll Fencibles (No.421) between March and May 1798. The Ayr, Tay, Dumfries, North Lowland and Caithness Fencibles likewise took out Orange Warrants over the ensuing months, and around the turn of the century the Elgin Regiment, the Midlothian Dragoons, and the Duke of York's Highlanders also obtained authority to hold Orange Lodges in their regiments. During the Napoleonic Wars, the Highland Light Infantry, King's Own Scottish Borderers, the Scots Greys and the Cameron Highlanders also obtained Warrants, in some cases utilising a system of 'duplicates' whereby one military Lodge granted authority to another until full authority could be obtained from the Grand Lodge

There is no record of any civilian Lodge warrants being issued for Scotland by the Grand Lodge of Ireland in its first register (1798-1819), and the Lodges known to be working in Ayrshire, Glasgow, and Argyllshire in 1807 all had military origins. Civilian Lodges composed mainly of Ulstermen came in a later phase of development and the notion of the importation of Orangeism into Scotland by migrating Ulstermen is one of the most enduring popular misconception of all time. In fact it was more of a case of returning soldiers bringing Orangeism home with them and opening Scottish Lodges . If you would like to read more  please click here