List of acts of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1797 facts for kids

This page lists the important laws, called acts, that were passed by the Parliament of Great Britain in 1797. These laws helped manage the country and its people during that time. Great Britain was a powerful nation, and these acts covered many different areas, from how money was handled to how the military was run.

The Parliament of Great Britain was the main law-making body for England, Scotland, and Wales from 1707 to 1800. Each law is given a special number, called a chapter number, and is named after the year of the king's reign when it was passed. For example, "37 Geo. 3" means the 37th year of King George III's rule.

Laws from 37 Geo. 3 (1797)

This section covers laws passed during the first part of the 18th Parliament of Great Britain. This Parliament met from September 27, 1796, to July 20, 1797.

Important Public Laws

Public acts were laws that affected everyone in the country. Here are some key ones from 1797:

• Bank of England Notes Act 1797 (Chapter 28): This law dealt with paper money, specifically notes from the Bank of England that were worth less than five pounds. It was important for how money was used daily.
• East India Company Act 1797 (Chapter 31): This act allowed the East India Company, a powerful trading company, to raise more money by increasing its capital. The company played a huge role in Britain's trade and control in India.
• Mutiny Act 1797 (Chapter 33): This was an annual law that set the rules for the army. It covered things like punishing soldiers who rebelled or ran away, and how they were paid and housed.
• Marine Mutiny Act 1797 (Chapter 34): Similar to the army's Mutiny Act, this law set rules for the Royal Marines when they were on land.
• Trade with United States Act 1797 (Chapter 37): This law continued rules for trade between Great Britain and the newly formed United States of America. It helped keep business flowing between the two nations.
• Manning of the Army and Navy Act 1797 (Chapter 39): This act aimed to get more men to join the army and navy, especially in Scotland. It was important for strengthening Britain's military forces.
• Bank (Scotland) Act 1797 (Chapter 40): This law allowed banks in Scotland to print and use paper money for smaller amounts. It also protected people who had already issued such notes.
• Restriction on Cash Payments Act 1797 (Chapter 45): This was a very important law. It confirmed and continued a rule that stopped the Bank of England from paying out gold or silver coins. Instead, people had to use paper money. This was done to protect the country's gold reserves during a time of war.
• National Debt Act 1797 (Chapter 46): This act made it possible to transfer certain annuities (yearly payments) from Ireland to the Bank of England. It helped manage the country's debt.
• Navy Pay, etc. Act 1797 (Chapter 53): This law increased the pay and provisions for sailors and marines in the Royal Navy. It also made it easier for them to send part of their pay to their families.
• Loan to Emperor of Germany Act 1797 (Chapter 59): Great Britain lent money to the Holy Roman Emperor (who was also the ruler of Austria) to help him in the ongoing wars in Europe. This act guaranteed the repayment of that loan.
• Incitement to Mutiny Act 1797 (Chapter 70): This law made it a serious crime to try and convince soldiers or sailors to rebel or disobey orders. It was a strong measure to maintain order in the military.
• Certain Mutinous Crews Act 1797 (Chapter 71): This act specifically aimed to stop communication with and suppress rebellions among the crews of certain Royal Navy ships that were in a state of mutiny.
• Desertion of Seamen Act 1797 (Chapter 73): This law tried to stop sailors from running away from British merchant ships, especially those trading in the West Indies.
• Slave Trade Act 1797 (Chapter 104): This act regulated how enslaved people were shipped and carried on British vessels from the coast of Africa. It was part of the ongoing, though slow, process of addressing the slave trade.
• House Duties Act 1797 (Chapter 105): This law introduced new taxes on houses where people lived.
• Duties on Horses Act 1797 (Chapter 106): This act added more taxes on certain horses and mules.
• Duties on Servants Act 1797 (Chapter 107): This law brought in extra taxes on male servants.
• Duties on Clocks and Watches Act 1797 (Chapter 108): This act introduced new taxes on clocks and watches.
• Unlawful Oaths Act 1797 (Chapter 123): This law made it illegal to give or take secret oaths that were against the government or public order. It was a way to prevent secret societies or rebellions.
• Counterfeiting Coin Act 1797 (Chapter 126): This act made it a crime to make fake copper coins or fake foreign gold and silver coins. It also made it illegal to bring fake foreign coins into the country.
• Meeting of Parliament Act 1797 (Chapter 127): This law changed how quickly Parliament could be called to meet, especially if the King died. It made sure the government could keep working smoothly.
• East India Act 1797 (Chapter 142): This act improved how justice was handled in British areas like Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay in India. It also stopped British people from lending money to local Indian princes without permission.
• Weights and Measures Act 1797 (Chapter 143): This law helped make sure that weights and balances used for trade were accurate and fair.

Local and Private Laws

Many other laws were passed for specific local areas or for private individuals or groups. These often dealt with:

• Canals and Harbours: Laws were passed to build or improve canals (like the Bodmin Canal, Grantham Canal, Caldon Canal, Monmouth Canal, Trent and Mersey Canal) and harbours (like Eyemouth, Barmouth, Aberdeen, Ramsgate, Rye, Saltcoats). These were important for trade and transport.
• Roads: Many acts focused on building, widening, or repairing roads across Great Britain, making travel and trade easier.
• Town Improvements: Laws were made to improve towns, such as paving, cleaning, lighting, and watching the streets in places like Northampton, Ipswich, and areas of London.
• Drainage and Enclosure: Many acts were about draining land to make it suitable for farming or enclosing common lands. "Enclosure" meant turning shared land into private farms. This was a big change in the countryside.
• Estates and Divorces: Some private acts dealt with family estates, allowing land to be sold or exchanged. A few were also for divorces, which at the time required a special act of Parliament.
• Naturalization: These acts allowed foreign people to become British citizens.

Laws from 38 Geo. 3 (1797)

This section covers laws passed during the second part of the 18th Parliament of Great Britain, which met from November 2, 1797, to June 29, 1798.

Important Public General Laws

• Restriction on Cash Payments (No. 2) Act 1797 (Chapter 1): This law continued the rule that the Bank of England did not have to pay out gold or silver coins. This rule stayed in place until a month after the war ended.
• Issue of Bank Notes (Scotland) Act 1797 (Chapter 2): This act continued the permission for Scottish banks to issue notes for small amounts of money.
• Duties on Malt, etc. Act 1797 (Chapter 4): This law continued taxes on malt (used for beer), mum (a type of beer), cider, and perry (a drink made from pears) for the year 1798.
• Land Tax Act 1797 (Chapter 5): This act set the land tax for the year 1798, which was a way for the government to raise money.
• Army and Navy Act 1797 (Chapter 6): This law continued the act that prevented people from trying to make soldiers and sailors rebel.
• Indemnity (No. 2) Act 1797 (Chapter 14): This act protected people who had not completed certain paperwork or qualifications for their jobs or roles (like justices of the peace) by the deadline. It gave them more time to do so.
• Marine Mutiny (No. 2) Act 1797 (Chapter 15): This was another annual act setting rules for the Royal Marines while they were on shore.

Local Acts

• All Saints Church, Southampton Act 1797 (Chapter 1): This local act allowed for the rebuilding of the All Saints parish church in Southampton.

See also

• List of acts of the Parliament of Great Britain