Why did Daniel Defoe travel to Scotland during the Act of Union of 1707?

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Daniel Defoe Daniel Defoe, engraving by M. Van der Gucht, after a portrait by J. Taverner, first half of the 18th century.

Daniel Defoe traveled to Scotland during the Act of Union of 1707 in his capacity as an intelligence agent and pamphleteer for Robert Harley.1

Following his release from prison, Defoe entered into an agreement to serve Harley by traveling extensively and providing reports on political matters. During his visits to Scotland, his primary objective was to keep Harley closely informed regarding public opinion surrounding the union. These observations later proved useful when Defoe incorporated them into his work, Tour Through the Whole Island of Great Britain (1724–26).1