Search Legislation

Piracy Act 1837

 Help about what version

What Version

 Help about opening options

Opening Options

Status:

This is the original version (as it was originally enacted).

Legislation Crest

Piracy Act 1837

1837 CHAPTER 88

An Act to amend certain Acts relating to the Crime of Piracy.

[17th July 1837]

WHEREAS it is expedient to amend so much of an [28 H. 8. c. 15.] Act passed in the Twenty-eighth Year of the Reign of King Henry the Eighth, intituled For Pirates, and so much of an [11 & 12 W. 3. c. 7.] Act passed in the Eleventh and Twelfth Years of the Reign of King William the Third, intituled An Act for the more effectual Suppression of Piracy, and so much of an [4 G. 1. c. 11. s. 7.] Act passed in the Fourth Year of the Reign of King George the First, intituled An Act for the further preventing Robbery, Burglary, and other Felonies, and for the more effectual Transportation of Felons and unlawful Exporters of Wool, and for declaring the Law upon some Points relating to Pirates, and so much of an [8 G. 1. c. 24.] Act passed in the Eighth Year of the same Reign, intituled An Act for the more effectual suppressing of Piracy, and so much of an [18 G. 2. c. 30.] Act passed in the Eighteenth Year of the Reign of King George the Second, intituled An Act to amend an Act made in the Eleventh Year of the Reign of King William the Third, intituled ' An Act for the more effectual Suppression ' of Piracy,' as relates to the Punishment of the Crime of Piracy, or of any Offence by any of the said Acts declared to be Piracy, or of Accessaries thereto respectively:

Be it therefore enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual, and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same,

Repeal of Provisions in recited Acts.

That so much of the said several Acts as is herein-before referred to shall from and after the Commencement of this Act be and the same is hereby repealed.

IIPunishment of Piracy when Murder is attempted.

And be it enacted, That from, and after the Commencement of this Act whosoever, with Intent to commit or at the Time of or immediately before or immediately after committing the Crime of Piracy in respect of any Ship or Vessel; shall assault, with Intent to murder, any Person being on board of or belonging to such Ship or Vessel, or shall stab, cut, or wound any such Person, or unlawfully do any Act by which the Life of such Person may be endangered, shall be guilty of Felony, and being convicted thereof shall suffer Death as a Felon.

IIIPersons guilty of Piracy to be transported.

And be it enacted, That from and after the Commencement of this Act whosoever shall be convicted of any Offence which by any of the Acts herein-before referred to amounts to the, Crime of Piracy, and is thereby made punishable with, Death, shall be liable, at the Discretion of the Court, to be transported beyond the Seas for the Term of the natural Life of such Offender, or for any Term not less than Fifteen Years, or to be imprisoned for any Term not exceeding Three Years.

IVPunishment of Accessaries.

And be it enacted, That in the Case of every Felony punishable under this Act every Principal in the Second Degree and every Accessary before the Fact shall be punishable with Death or otherwise in the same Manner as the Principal in the First Degree is by this Act punishable; and every Accessary after the Fact to any Felony punishable under this Act shall, on Conviction, be liable to be imprisoned for any Term not exceeding Two Years.

VOffences punishable by Imprisonment.

And be it enacted, That where any Person shall be convicted of any Offence punishable under this Act for which Imprisonment may be awarded, it shall be lawful for the Court to sentence the Offender to be imprisoned, or imprisoned and "kept to hard Labour, in the Common Gaol or House of Correction, and also to direct that the Offender shall be kept in solitary Confinement for any Portion or Portions of such: Imprisonment, or of such Imprisonment with hard Labour, not exceeding One Month at any one Time, and not exceeding Three Months in any one Year, as to the Court, in its Discretion shall seem meet.

VINot to affect Powers of 5 & 6 W.4 c.38 and 4 G.4 c.64.

And be it further enacted, That nothing in this Act contained shall "Be construed to extend to the Alteration or Repeal of any of the "Powers, Provisions, or Regulations contained in an Act made and passed in the Fifth and Sixth Years of: the Reign of His late Majesty King William the Fourth) intituled An Act for effecting greater Uniformity of Practice in the Government of the several Prisons in England and Wales, and for appointing Inspectors of Prisons in Great Britain, or in an Act made and passed in the Fourth Year of His Majesty King George the Fourth, intituled An Act for consolidating and, amending the Laws relating to the building, repairing, and regulating of certain Gaols and Houses of Correction in England and Wales.

VIICommencement of Act.

And be it further enacted, That this Act shall commence and take effect on the First Day of October One thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven.

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources