From 1603 until their union in 1707, Scotland and England possessed separate navies that operated as one force - albeit for a period of Anglo-Scottish hostilities during the interregnum (1649-1660). Thomas Gordon became the last commander of the Royal Scots Navy, taking charge of HMS "Royal Mary" on the North Sea patrol, moving to "Royal William" when she entered service in 1705, and being promoted to commodore in 1706. With the Act of Union in 1707, the Royal Scottish Navy was merged with the English Royal Navy, but there were already much larger English ships called "Royal William" and "Mary", so the Scottish frigates were renamed and , while only retained its name.