List of acts of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1796 facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This article is about the important laws, called Acts of Parliament, that were made in Great Britain during the year 1796. These laws were created by the Parliament of Great Britain, which was like the country's main rule-making body. Think of them as the big decisions and rules that shaped how people lived and how the country was run back then.

Each law has a special number, called a chapter number. For example, a law might be called "36 Geo. 3. c. 67". This means it was the 67th law passed during the 39th and 40th years of King George III's rule. It's a bit like how we number chapters in a book!

Before 1801, these laws didn't have short, easy-to-remember names. Later, some of them were given shorter titles to make them easier to talk about. From 1798 onwards, laws were also split into "public general acts" (for everyone) and "public local and personal acts" (for specific places or people).

Laws from 1796 (36 Geo. 3)
- Public Laws for Everyone
Laws from Late 1796 (37 Geo. 3)
- Public Laws for Everyone (Late 1796)
See also

Laws from 1796 (36 Geo. 3)

These laws were made during the sixth session of the 17th Parliament of Great Britain. This session lasted from October 1795 to May 1796.

Public Laws for Everyone

Many laws passed in 1796 were "public acts," meaning they affected everyone in Great Britain. Here are some examples of the kinds of things these laws covered:

Money and Government

Royal Exchange Assurance Act 1796 (chapter 26): This law helped a company called the Royal Exchange Assurance, which provided insurance for houses and goods against fire. It explained and expanded their powers.
London Assurance Act 1796 (chapter 27): Similar to the Royal Exchange Act, this law did the same for the London Assurance company, also dealing with fire insurance.
Exchequer Bills Acts 1796 (chapters 29, 30, 31): These laws were about raising money for the government. They allowed the government to borrow money by issuing "exchequer bills," which are like special IOUs.
Legacy Duty Act 1796 (chapter 52): This act changed some taxes on money or property that people inherited after someone passed away.
National Debt Act 1796 (chapter 74): This law was about managing the country's debt, specifically by raising money through annuities (a type of investment where you get regular payments).
Duties on Dogs Act 1796 (chapter 124): Yes, there was even a tax on dogs! This law set up certain duties (taxes) on dog ownership.

Trade and Business

Exportation Act 1796 (chapter 53): This law was about controlling what could be sent out of the country, specifically rock salt. It also protected people who had followed earlier government orders about this.
Free Ports Act 1796 (chapter 55): This law made the port of Scarborough in Tobago a "free port," which meant goods could be imported and exported there without many of the usual taxes, to encourage trade.
Metal Button Act 1796 (chapter 60): This law was made to regulate how metal buttons were made and sold. It aimed to stop people from being tricked about the quality of the buttons they bought.
Coal Trade (London) Act 1796 (chapter 61): This act helped prevent cheating and problems when measuring coal in Westminster and nearby areas of London.
Landing of Merchandise Act 1796 (chapter 82): This law made it harder to secretly bring goods into the country without customs officers knowing.
Pawnbrokers Act 1796 (chapter 87): This act set rules for the business of pawnbrokers, who lend money in exchange for items left as security.
Hay and Straw Act 1796 (chapter 88): This law regulated how hay and straw were bought and sold, especially in certain areas.
East India Company Acts 1796 (chapters 119, 120, 127): These acts dealt with the powerful East India Company. They allowed the company to buy land for warehouses and make new streets in London.

Infrastructure and Public Services

Bedford Level (Drainage) Act 1796 (chapter 33): This law was important for improving the drainage of large areas of fen lands, known as the Bedford Level, to prevent flooding and make the land more useful.
Thames and Severn Canal Act 1796 (chapter 34): This act helped the company that owned the Thames and Severn Canal raise money to pay debts and keep the canal working. Canals were like highways for boats, very important for moving goods.
Saint Bride's Church, City Act 1796 (chapter 35): This law allowed trustees to raise more money to repair and improve the church of Saint Bride in London.
Warwick and Birmingham Canal Act 1796 (chapter 42): This act helped the company building the Warwick and Birmingham Canal finish their project.
Ramsgate (Improvement) Act 1796 (chapter 43): This law aimed to improve Ramsgate by paving, cleaning, lighting, and watching its streets, and also for building a market house. Many towns had similar "improvement" acts.
Kennet and Avon Canal Act 1796 (chapter 44): This act changed the planned route of the Kennet and Avon Canal and allowed for new cuts (branches) to be made.
Deal Improvement Act 1796 (chapter 45): Similar to Ramsgate, this law helped repair, pave, and clean streets in Deal, Kent.
Grand Western Canal Act 1796 (chapter 46): This act approved the building of a new canal from the River Exe to the River Tone, connecting different parts of the country.
Dorset and Wiltshire Canal Act 1796 (chapter 47): This law allowed for another new canal project, connecting Dorset and Wiltshire.
Somerset Canal Act 1796 (chapter 48): This act changed the route of a canal in Somerset, which was meant to connect coal mines to the Kennet and Avon Canal.
Folkestone Improvement Act 1796 (chapter 49): This law focused on paving, repairing, and cleaning streets in Folkestone.
Wakefield Improvement Act 1796 (chapter 50): This act was about lighting and watching the streets of Wakefield, and keeping them clean.
Beccles Improvement Act 1796 (chapter 51): This law aimed to improve the streets and public areas in Beccles, Suffolk, by paving, lighting, and cleaning them.
Saint Paul, Covent Garden (Church Rebuilding) Act 1796 (chapter 65): This act was for rebuilding the parish church of Saint Paul in Covent Garden, London, and making other improvements.
Tavistock Canal Act 1796 (chapter 67): This law allowed for the building of a canal from Morwellham Quay to Tamerton Bridge, and other related waterways.
Aberdeenshire Canal Act 1796 (chapter 68): This act approved the construction of a canal in Scotland, connecting Aberdeen harbour to the River Don.
Glamorganshire Canal Act 1796 (chapter 69): This law updated an earlier act for a canal in Glamorgan, extending it further.
Leominster Canal Act 1796 (chapter 70): This act helped the Leominster Canal company finish their canal.
Ellesmere and Chester Canal Act 1796 (chapter 71, 96): These acts explained and updated earlier laws for building a major canal connecting the River Severn to the River Mersey, and its branches.
Ramsey (Huntingdonshire) Drainage, etc. Act 1796 (chapter 72): This law was for draining and improving common lands in Ramsey, Huntingdonshire.
Bedford Level Act 1796 (chapter 73): This act added a tax on lands in the North Level of the Bedford Fens to help maintain important banks and works that protected the area from water.
Great Grimsby (Lincoln) Harbour Act 1796 (chapter 98): This law was for making the harbour of Great Grimsby wider, deeper, and generally better.
Everton, etc. (Nottinghamshire) Drainage, etc. Act 1796 (chapter 99): This act focused on improving drainage and protecting low-lying lands in several parishes in Nottinghamshire.
Marshland, Norfolk (Drainage) Act 1796 (chapter 100): This law was for draining and improving common lands in Marshland, Norfolk.
Gainsborough (Inclosure) Act 1796 (chapter 101): This act was for dividing and improving common lands in several townships near Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.
Lincoln (Poor Relief) Act 1796 (chapter 102): This law aimed to better help and employ the poor people in Lincoln and its surrounding areas.
Saint Martin Outwich Church, City Act 1796 (chapter 103): This act was for rebuilding a church in the City of London.
Whitby Harbour Act 1796 (chapter 121): This law continued a duty (tax) on coal to help maintain and repair the piers and harbour of Whitby.

Roads and Transportation

Many acts were passed to improve roads, which were vital for travel and trade. These are often called "turnpike acts" because they allowed companies to charge tolls at "turnpikes" (gates) to pay for road maintenance.

Farnborough and Sevenoaks Road Act 1796 (chapter 128)
Wadesmill and Royston Road Act 1796 (chapter 129)
North Shields and Newcastle-upon-Tyne Road Act 1796 (chapter 130)
Dean Forest Roads Act 1796 (chapter 131)
Kincardine (County) Roads Act 1796 (chapter 132)
Coventry Roads Act 1796 (chapter 133)
Perth and Queensferry Roads Act 1796 (chapter 134)
Southampton Portsmouth and Sheet Bridge Roads Act 1796 (chapter 135)
Wearmouth and Tyne Bridge Road Act 1796 (chapter 136)
Blackburn and Addingham Road Act 1796 (chapter 137)
Leeds and Harrogate Road Act 1796 (chapter 138)
Perth Roads Act 1796 (chapter 139)
Slough Roads Act 1796 (chapter 140)
Old Stratford and Dunchurch Road Act 1796 (chapter 141)
Little Yarmouth and Blytheburgh Road Act 1796 (chapter 142)
Crossford Bridge and Altrincham Road Act 1796 (chapter 143)
Blackburn Roads Act 1796 (chapter 144)
Altrincham and Warrington Roads Act 1796 (chapter 145)
Wolverhampton Roads Act 1796 (chapter 146)
Bale and Dolgelly Roads Act 1796 (chapter 147)
Macclesfield and Congleton Road Act 1796 (chapter 148)
Bolton and St. Helens Road Act 1796 (chapter 149)
Nottinghamshire Roads Act 1796 (chapter 150)
Bedford and Woburn Road Act 1796 (chapter 151)
Nottingham Roads Act 1796 (chapter 152)

Other Important Public Acts

Marine Mutiny Act 1796 (chapter 28): This law set rules for how the King's marine forces (soldiers who serve on ships) should behave when they were on land.
Quartering of Soldiers Act 1796 (chapter 36): This act increased the amount of money paid to innkeepers and others who had to provide lodging for soldiers.
Game Act 1796 (chapter 39) and Game (Scotland) Act 1796 (chapter 54): These laws were about protecting game animals (like deer or birds hunted for sport) in England and Scotland.
Militia Pay Act 1796 (chapter 41): This law set out how the militia (a kind of part-time army) in England would be paid and clothed for a year.
Mills Act 1796 (chapter 85): This act was about better regulating mills, which were important for grinding grain.
London Militia Act 1796 (chapter 92): This law updated and combined earlier acts about how the militia in the City of London was organized.
Families of Militiamen, etc. Act 1796 (chapter 114): This act helped provide for the families of people who were chosen to serve in the militia.
Manning of the Navy Act 1796 (chapter 115): This law was about making sure enough men were recruited for the King's navy.
Fish Act 1796 (chapter 118): This act allowed fish to be sold by retail (in smaller amounts) at Billingsgate market.

Laws from Late 1796 (37 Geo. 3)

The next set of laws were passed during the first session of the 18th Parliament of Great Britain, which started in September 1796 and continued into 1797.

Public Laws for Everyone (Late 1796)

Duties on Malt, etc. Act 1796 (chapter 1): This law continued certain taxes on malt (used for making beer), cider, and perry (a drink made from pears).
Land Tax (No. 2) Act 1796 (chapter 2): This act granted a land tax to help fund the government for the year 1797.
Militia Act 1796 (chapter 3) and Militia (No. 2) Act 1796 (chapter 22): These laws were about increasing the size of the militia and how they would be trained. They also allowed the King to call them into full service if needed for defense.
Manning of the Army and Navy Act 1796 (chapter 4) and Manning of the Army and Navy (Scotland) Act 1796 (chapter 5): These acts were about recruiting a certain number of men from different parts of England and Scotland for the army and navy.
Provisional Cavalry Act 1796 (chapter 6) and Provisional Cavalry (No. 2) Act 1796 (chapter 23): These laws allowed the King to create a temporary cavalry force (soldiers on horseback) for defense if necessary.
Exportation and Importation Act 1796 (chapter 7): This act continued a ban on exporting certain foods like corn and potatoes, and allowed more food to be imported without duty, to help with food supplies.
National Debt Acts 1796 (chapters 9, 10, 20): These laws continued to deal with the country's national debt, including raising money through annuities and extending deadlines for certain bills.
Excise Act 1796 (chapter 14): This law added new taxes on things like auctions, bricks, cocoa nuts, spirits, and tea.
Customs Act 1796 (chapter 15): This act set new customs duties (taxes) on goods coming into or leaving Great Britain.
Stage Coach Duties Act 1796 (chapter 16): This law added an extra tax on stage coaches, which were a main way people traveled long distances.
Postage Act 1796 (chapter 18): This act changed some of the prices for sending letters in England and Scotland, and for sending mail to and from Portugal and British colonies in America.
Stamps (No. 2) Act 1796 (chapter 19): This law aimed to make sure that stamp duties (taxes on legal documents) were collected more effectively.
Cape of Good Hope Trade Act 1796 (chapter 21): This act allowed the King to make rules about trade to and from the Cape of Good Hope (in South Africa) for a limited time.
Dudley Canal Act 1796 (chapter 13): This law allowed the company that owned the Dudley Canal to raise more money to finish building the canal and updated earlier laws about it.
Militia (Tower Hamlets) Act 1796 (chapter 25): This law was specifically for organizing the militia forces in the Tower Hamlets area of London.
Navy Victualling and Transport Bills Act 1796 (chapter 26): This act aimed to make sure that bills for the navy, victualling (food supplies), and transport were paid more quickly.