Company of Scotland

The Company of Scotland Trading to Africa and the Indies, commonly known as the Company of Scotland, was founded in 1695 with aspirations of establishing overseas colonies and promoting trade. Its most notable endeavor was the Darien Scheme, an attempt to establish a colony on the Isthmus of Panama, aiming to create a trade route between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The venture, however, faced logistical challenges, lack of English support, and harsh conditions, culminating in its disastrous failure.

This financial debacle deeply impacted Scotland's economy and played a role in the subsequent Acts of Union between Scotland and England in 1707.