List of acts of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1771 facts for kids
This page lists the laws, also known as acts, that were passed by the Parliament of Great Britain in the year 1771. These laws helped shape how Great Britain was governed and how people lived during that time.
Laws are identified by a special number called a "chapter number." This number comes after the year of the king's reign when the law was passed. For example, a law might be called "11 Geo. 3 c. 1," which means it was the first law passed in the 11th year of King George III's reign.
Back then, laws didn't have short, easy-to-remember names like they do today. They had very long, descriptive titles. Also, a law was considered to be in effect from the very first day of the parliamentary session when it was passed, even if it was approved much later in the session. This means some laws listed here might have been passed in 1771 but are linked to the year 1770 because that's when the session began.
Laws from 1771 (11 Geo. 3)
The laws listed below were passed during the fourth meeting of the 13th Parliament of Great Britain. This session started on November 13, 1770, and ended on May 8, 1771.
Public Laws
Public laws affected everyone in Great Britain. They covered a wide range of topics, from taxes and trade to improving towns and managing the military. Many of these old laws have since been "repealed," meaning they are no longer in effect.
Here are some examples of the public laws passed in 1771:
- Exportation etc. Act 1771 (Chapter 1): This law continued to stop the export of things like corn, grain, and flour. It also stopped making spirits from wheat. This was likely to make sure there was enough food in Great Britain.
- Malt Duties Act 1771 (Chapter 2): This act continued taxes on malt (used for beer), mum (a type of beer), cider, and perry (pear cider). Taxes like these helped fund the government.
- Supply of Seamen Act 1771 (Chapter 3): This law aimed to get more sailors for the King's navy and for merchant ships.
- Land Tax Act 1771 (Chapter 5): This was a major law for collecting taxes on land across Great Britain to help pay for government services.
- Mutiny Act 1771 (Chapter 6): This important law set the rules for punishing soldiers who mutinied (rebelled) or deserted (ran away). It also covered how the army was paid and housed.
- Marine Mutiny Act 1771 (Chapter 7): Similar to the army's mutiny act, this law set rules for the King's marine forces when they were on land.
- Winchester (Improvement) Act 1771 (Chapter 9): This law focused on making the city of Winchester better. It covered paving, cleaning, lighting, and watching the streets, and preventing nuisances. Many towns and cities had similar laws to improve their public spaces.
- Liverpool Theatre Act 1771 (Chapter 16): This act allowed the King to officially license a playhouse (theatre) in Liverpool. This shows the growing importance of entertainment in towns.
- Oxford (Improvement) Act 1771 (Chapter 19): This law was about improving roads leading to Oxford, fixing bridges, cleaning and lighting streets in the city and university, and preventing problems.
- Hackney Coaches Act 1771 (Chapter 24): This law allowed for more Hackney Coaches (horse-drawn taxis) and explained how the money from their licenses would be used.
- City of London Sewerage Act 1771 (Chapter 29): This act improved and expanded the system of vaults, drains, and sewers in the City of London. It also covered paving, cleaning, and lighting streets.
- Thames and Isis Navigation Act 1771 (Chapter 45): This law aimed to improve and complete the navigation of the Rivers Thames and Isis, making it easier for boats to travel from London all the way to Cricklade. This was important for trade and transport.
- Counterfeiting of Copper Coin Act 1771 (Chapter 40): This law was created to better prevent people from making fake copper coins.
- Parliamentary Elections, New Shoreham Act 1771 (Chapter 55): This was a very specific law that prevented certain individuals from voting in elections for the town of New Shoreham. It also aimed to stop bribery and corruption in elections there. This shows how Parliament tried to deal with election problems.
- Forth and Clyde Navigation Act 1771 (Chapter 62): This act helped to improve and make more effective a previous law about building a canal connecting the Firth of Forth and the River Clyde in Scotland. Canals were like the highways of their time, making it easier to move goods.
Private Laws
Private laws were different from public laws because they usually affected specific people, families, or small groups, rather than the whole country.
Here are some common types of private acts from 1771:
- Inclosure Acts: Many private acts were about "inclosure." This meant dividing up open fields, common lands, and waste grounds into smaller, privately owned plots. This changed the landscape and how farming was done.
* Examples: * Lowick (Northamptonshire) Inclosure Act 1771 (Chapter 2) * Aylesbury (Buckinghamshire) Inclosure Act 1771 (Chapter 13) * Myton Carr (Kingston-upon-Hull) Inclosure Act 1771 (Chapter 38)
- Naturalization Acts: These laws granted British citizenship to individuals who were born in other countries.
* Examples: * Naturalization of Bernard Perny Act 1771 (Chapter 1) * Naturalization of Lewis Benjamin Crinsoz Act 1771 (Chapter 3) * Naturalization of John Du Roveray, John Naville, John Eynard, David Chollett, and John Gertcken Act 1771 (Chapter 64)
- Estate Acts: These laws dealt with the property and finances of specific families or individuals, often allowing them to sell, exchange, or manage their lands in ways that weren't usually allowed.
* Examples: * Washington Earl Ferrers' Estate Act 1771 (Chapter 7): This act helped manage the lands of Earl Ferrers. * Sir Francis Blake Delaval's Estate Act 1771 (Chapter 11): This allowed Sir Francis to grant leases on parts of his family's estates. * Duke of Portland's Estate Act 1771 (Chapter 104): This act allowed the Duke of Portland to sell some of his estates in Southampton.
- Name Change Acts: Some acts allowed individuals to legally change their surname, often to inherit property or follow a will.
* Examples: * Thomas Lord Ducie's Name Act 1771 (Chapter 24): This allowed Lord Ducie to take the surname Moreton. * Samuel Pitchford's Name Act 1771 (Chapter 25): This allowed Captain Samuel Pitchford to use the surname Cornish.
- Divorce Acts: In this period, a divorce could only be granted by an Act of Parliament, which was a very rare and expensive process.
* Example: * Henry Knight's divorce from Catherine Lynch, and other provisions Act 1771 (Chapter 29)
See also
