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- January 29, 1848
Scotland adopted Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) in 1880. Prior to this, local mean time, based on the local meridian, was used in different regions, which led to variations in timekeeping across the country. The adoption of GMT was part of a wider movement towards standardizing time that took place in the 19th century, primarily driven by the expansion of railway networks and the need for uniform timekeeping.
Railway Time
The expansion of railway networks across Britain in the early 19th century highlighted the problem of having different local times in different places. Railway companies started using GMT to keep a standard time for train schedules, which was more practical and reduced confusion. This practice was often referred to as “Railway Time.”
Greenwich Mean Time
GMT is based on the mean solar time at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London. It was considered a convenient reference point as the prime meridian, the line of longitude defined to be 0 degrees, passes through Greenwich.
Legal Adoption
The legal adoption of GMT in Great Britain (including Scotland) was formalized by the Statutes (Definition of Time) Act in 1880. This act legally adopted Greenwich Mean Time throughout Great Britain, replacing local mean times.
Impact on Society
The standardization of time was important for various aspects of social and economic life, including commerce, travel, and communication. It allowed for more synchronized and efficient schedules for trains, which were the main mode of long-distance transportation at the time.
Global Time Zones
The concept of a global 24-hour time-zone system, using GMT as the reference time, was proposed by Sir Sandford Fleming at an international conference in 1884. This led to the creation of the system of international time zones used today.
Daylight Saving Time
Later, during World War I, the concept of Daylight Saving Time (DST) was introduced, initially to save energy by making better use of daylight. Scotland, like the rest of the UK, also adopted DST, which involves adjusting the clocks forward one hour during the warmer months.
The adoption of GMT in Scotland was part of a broader shift towards time standardization, which was crucial in the context of the Industrial Revolution and the expansion of global communication and travel networks. This change significantly impacted daily life and the functioning of society.