List of acts of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1795 facts for kids
This article lists the important laws, called Acts of Parliament, that were passed in Great Britain between 1795 and 1798. These laws were made by the Parliament of Great Britain, which was the main law-making body for England, Scotland, and Wales at the time.
To understand these laws, it helps to know how they were named. Each law has a chapter number, like "c. 67". Before this number, you'll see the year of the king's rule when the law was passed. For example, "39 & 40 Geo. 3. c. 67" means it was the 67th law passed during the parliamentary session that started in the 39th year of King George III's reign and ended in the 40th year.
Sometimes, these old laws didn't have a short, easy-to-remember name. Later, some were given shorter titles to make them easier to refer to. From 1798 onwards, laws were also split into "public general acts" (for everyone) and "public local and personal acts" (for specific places or people).
Contents
Laws from 1795 (35 Geo. 3)
The Parliament of Great Britain met from December 30, 1794, to June 27, 1795. During this time, many new laws were passed.
Important Public Laws of 1795
These laws affected everyone in Great Britain:
- Taxes and Money: Several acts were passed to collect money for the government. These included the Duties on Malt, etc. Act 1795 (Chapter 1) and the Land Tax Act 1795 (Chapter 2), which continued taxes on things like malt, cider, and land. The National Debt Act 1795 (Chapter 14) and National Debt (No. 2) Act 1795 (Chapter 23) were about raising money through loans and managing the country's debt.
- Military and Navy: Laws like the Manning of the Navy Act 1795 (Chapter 5) and Manning of the Navy (No. 2) Act 1795 (Chapter 9) aimed to get more men to serve in the navy. The Mutiny Act 1795 (Chapter 6) and Marine Mutiny Act 1795 (Chapter 7) set rules for soldiers and marines, including how they were paid and disciplined. The Families of Militiamen Act 1795 (Chapter 81) helped support the families of men serving in the militia.
- Public Safety and Order: The Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1795 (Chapter 3) allowed the government to hold people suspected of plotting against the King without trial for a limited time. The Aliens Act 1795 (Chapter 24) set rules for foreigners living in or visiting the country.
- Trade and Goods: Laws like the Exportation and Importation Act 1795 (Chapter 4) allowed the government to control what food could be sent out of or brought into the country, especially corn, to make sure there was enough for everyone. The Customs Act 1795 (Chapter 20) added duties (taxes) on imported goods like fruit and timber. The Slave Trade Act 1795 (Chapter 90) regulated how slaves were shipped and carried on British vessels from Africa.
- Social Issues: The Poor Removal Act 1795 (Chapter 101) was an important law that prevented poor people from being moved from their homes unless they actually needed help from the parish. This meant people couldn't be sent away just because they might become a burden. The Friendly Societies Act 1795 (Chapter 111) helped support groups where people saved money together to help each other in times of need. The Weights and Measures Act 1795 (Chapter 102) aimed to stop people from using unfair weights and balances when selling goods.
- Infrastructure and Improvements: Several acts focused on improving canals, roads, and towns. For example, the Grand Junction Canal (No. 1) Act 1795 (Chapter 8) and Grand Junction Canal (No. 2) Act 1795 (Chapter 43) were about building and improving canals for transport. The Hull Improvement Act 1795 (Chapter 46) and Aberdeen Improvements Act 1795 (Chapter 76) were about making towns better with new streets, lighting, and cleaning. The Bewdley Bridge Act 1795 (Chapter 78) was for building a new bridge over the River Severn.
- Royal Family: The Prince of Wales Act 1795 (Chapter 129) and Princess of Wales Act 1795 (Chapter 130) made arrangements for the finances of the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Private Laws of 1795
Private acts were laws that affected specific people, families, or small areas, rather than the whole country. Many of these were "Inclosure Acts," which allowed common lands to be divided up and fenced off for private ownership. This changed how land was used in many parts of the country. Other private acts included:
- Naturalization Acts: These laws granted British citizenship to individuals from other countries, such as the Naturalization of Peter Van Dyck Act 1795 (Private Chapter 1).
- Estate Acts: These dealt with the property and finances of specific families or individuals, like the William Brydges' Estate Act 1795 (Private Chapter 18).
- Divorce Acts: Very rarely, Parliament would pass a specific act to grant a divorce, as seen with the Henry Wakeman's Divorce Act 1795 (Private Chapter 2).
Laws from 1796 (36 Geo. 3)
The Parliament met again from October 29, 1795, to May 19, 1796. More important laws were passed during this session.
Important Public Laws of 1796
- Protecting the Government: The Treason Act 1795 (Chapter 7) and Seditious Meetings Act 1795 (Chapter 8) were passed to protect the King and government from plots and to control large public gatherings, aiming to prevent unrest and keep the peace.
- Food Supply: With concerns about food shortages, the Exportation and Importation Act 1795 (Chapter 3) prohibited sending out corn, flour, and potatoes, and allowed more food to be brought in without taxes. The Making of Starch Act 1795 (Chapter 6) even stopped the use of wheat for making starch to save food. The Making of Bread Act 1795 (Chapter 22) allowed bakers to make and sell different kinds of bread.
- Helping the Poor: The Poor Relief Act 1795 (Chapter 10) further helped poor people by allowing them to receive help in their own homes in certain situations, rather than forcing them into workhouses.
- Taxes and Money: Similar to 1795, new acts continued to raise money, such as the National Debt Act 1795 (Chapter 12) for government loans and the Excise Act 1795 (Chapter 13) which added duties on tobacco and snuff.
Private Laws of 1796
Again, these laws were for specific situations:
- Inclosure Acts: Many acts continued to divide and enclose common lands, such as the Mitchelmersh and Timsbury (Hampshire) Inclosure Act 1795 (Private Chapter 1).
- Naturalization Acts: These continued to grant citizenship to individuals, for example, the Naturalization of Alexander Boué and John Albrecht Act 1795 (Private Chapter 3).
See also
