Before the Acts of Union 1707, the barons of the stewartry of Orkney and lordship of Shetland (formerly spelled Zetland) elected commissioners to represent them in the unicameral Parliament of Scotland and in the Convention of Estates. They were re-annexed to the Crown in 1669.
The last election in 1702 was bitterly contested with the second seat initially going to William Craigie of Gairsay who was forced to withdraw. He said it was under pressure from James Douglas 11th Earl of Morton and his brother. Sir Archibald Stewart of Buray was selected in his place.
After 1708, Orkney and Shetland returned one member to the House of Commons of Great Britain and later to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.
List of commissioners
1661–62: Hugh Craigie of Gairsay (died c.1662)G. E. C., The Complete Baronetage, volume IV (1904) p. 444. 1663, 1669–74: Patrick Blair of Little Blair, sheriff 1665 convention: not represented 1667 (convention): Arthur Buchanan of Sound 1667 (convention): William Douglas of Eglishaw 1678 (convention): Captain Andrew DickComplete Baronetage, volume II (1902) p. 449. 1681–82, 1689 (convention), 1689–1701: William Craigie of Gairsay 1685–86: Harie Grahame of Breckness 1685–86: Charles Murray of Hadden 1700: Charles Mitchell, writer in Edinburgh 1702–04: Sir Archibald Stewart of BurrayComplete Baronetage, volume IV, p. 355. 1702-07: Alexander Douglas of Eagleshay
References
See also List of constituencies in the Parliament of Scotland at the time of the Union