A Long Way

Scotland - the not quite so little part in the north of the United Kingdom. To some extend a mysterious country with its moors, mountains, incredible landscapes and legends. Since the beginning of the 18th century it has been legally and therefore officially been a part of the United Kingdom and therefore also of the British Empire. The Scottish fights and claims for independence have, unlike other parts of the British Empire, not yet led to the countries independence from Westminster and England, although they were often quite close.
Still Scotland played a very big role in the Empire and the United Kingdom. Today a lot of money (and oil) go from Scotland to England, which is also a great cause for debate ("It's Scotland's oil!"). During the time of the Empire Glasgow, today the largest city in Scotland even before Edinburgh, was called "Second City of the Empire" (after London) which shows the importance of Scotland during the Empire.
Scotland did not only contribute its money so to say to the Empire but their soldiers also. As it is stated on educationscotland.gov.uk "Highland regiments fought with pride in campaigns in India, Africa and Afghanistan, commanded by Scottish generals. Between 1885 and 1939, one third of colonial governors were Scots." This also shows again how the high numbers of dead Scottish soldiers came about.
Also many educated Scots spread far across the Empire to work as a missionary, doctor etc. The first official Prime Minister of Canada was in fact a Scot: Sir John MacDonald who had been born in Glasgow.


sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Countries_of_the_United_Kingdom
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/scotlandshistory/makingindustrialurban/empire/index.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotland