Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1776

The Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1776 (17 Geo. 3. c. 9), also known as the Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1777 or the Treason Act 1777, was an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain passed during the American Revolution. It required that anyone who was charged with or suspected of high treason or piracy in America or on the high seas be held in custody without bail or trial until 1 January 1778. Bail could only be granted by an order of the Privy Council, signed by six members of the council.[1]

Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1776
Act of Parliament
Long titleAn act to empower his Majesty to secure and detain persons charged with, or suspected of, the crime of high treason, committed in any of his Majesty's colonies or plantations in America, or on the high seas, or the crime of piracy.
Citation17 Geo. 3. c. 9
Territorial extent 
Dates
Royal assent3 March 1776
Commencement3 March 1776
Expired1 January 1778
Repealed21 August 1871
Other legislation
Amended by
  • Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1778
  • Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1779
  • Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1780
  • Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1781
  • Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1782
Repealed byStatute Law Revision Act 1871
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted
Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1778
Act of Parliament
Long titleAn Act for continuing an Act made in the last Session of Parliament, intituled, "An Act to empower His Majesty to secure and detain Persons charged with or suspected of the Crime of High Treason, committed in any of His Majesty's Colonies or Plantations in America, or on the High Seas, or the Crime of Piracy."
Citation18 Geo. 3. c. 1
Dates
Royal assent10 December 1777
Commencement10 December 1777
Expired1 January 1779
Repealed21 August 1871
Other legislation
AmendsHabeas Corpus Suspension Act 1776
Repealed byStatute Law Revision Act 1871
Status: Repealed
Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1779
Act of Parliament
Long titleAn Act for further continuing an Act, made in the Seventeenth Year of the Reign of His present Majesty, intituled, "An Act to empower His Majesty to secure and detain Persons charged with, or suspected of, the Crime of High Treason, committed in any of His Majesty's Colonies or Plantations in America, or on the High Seas, or the Crime of Piracy."
Citation19 Geo. 3. c. 1
Dates
Royal assent16 December 1778
Commencement16 December 1778
Expired1 January 1780
Repealed21 August 1871
Other legislation
AmendsHabeas Corpus Suspension Act 1776
Repealed byStatute Law Revision Act 1871
Status: Repealed
Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1780
Act of Parliament
Long titleAn Act for further continuing an Act made in the Seventeenth Year of the Reign of His present Majesty, intituled, "An Act to empower His Majesty to secure and detain Persons charged with, or suspected of, the Crime of High Treason, committed in any of His Majesty's Colonies or Plantations in America, or on the High Seas, or the Crime of Piracy."
Citation20 Geo. 3. c. 5
Dates
Royal assent15 December 1779
Commencement15 December 1779
Expired1 January 1781
Repealed21 August 1871
Other legislation
AmendsHabeas Corpus Suspension Act 1776
Repealed byStatute Law Revision Act 1871
Status: Repealed
Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1781
Act of Parliament
Long titleAn Act for further continuing an Act made in the Seventeenth Year of the Reign of His present Majesty, intituled, "An Act to empower His Majesty to secure and detain Persons charged with, or suspected of, the Crime of High Treason, committed in any of His Majesty's Colonies or Plantations in America, or on the High Seas, or the Crime of Piracy."
Citation21 Geo. 3. c. 2
Dates
Royal assent27 November 1780
Commencement27 November 1780
Expired1 January 1782
Repealed21 August 1871
Other legislation
AmendsHabeas Corpus Suspension Act 1776
Repealed byStatute Law Revision Act 1871
Status: Repealed
Habeas Corpus Suspension Act 1782
Act of Parliament
Long titleAn Act for further continuing an Act made in the Seventeenth Year of the Reign of His present Majesty, intituled, "An Act to empower His Majesty to secure and detain Persons charged with, or suspected of the Crime of High Treason, committed in any of His Majesty's Colonies or Plantations in America, or on the High Seas, or the Crime of Piracy."
Citation22 Geo. 3. c. 1
Dates
Royal assent20 December 1781
Commencement20 December 1781
Expired1 January 1783
Repealed21 August 1871
Other legislation
AmendsHabeas Corpus Suspension Act 1776
Repealed byStatute Law Revision Act 1871
Status: Repealed

The Act was due to expire on 1 January 1778, but this was extended annually to 1 January of each successive year until 1 January 1783, when it was finally allowed to expire.[2][3]

References

edit
  1. ^ Statutes at Large, vol. VIII, London: Eyre, Straham, Woodfall.
  2. ^ 18 Geo. 3. c. 1 (1778), 19 Geo. 3. c. 1 (1779), 20 Geo. 3. c. 5 (1780), 21 Geo. 3. c. 2 (1781), 22 Geo. 3. c. 1 (1782).
  3. ^ Statutes at Large, vol. X (Index), London: Eyre, Straham, Woodfall (1786), "Plantations" para. 115.

See also

edit