Discovery of North-West Passage Act 1744
Encyclopedia
The Discovery of North-West Passage Act 1744 (18 Geo. II, c.17) was an Act of Parliament
of the Parliament of Great Britain
passed in 1745 and repealed in 1818. It offered a public reward for the successful discovery of a Northwest Passage
from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
The preamble to the Act stated the expected economic benefits of the discovery of the passage, and that it would be "a great encouragement to adventurers" to offer a prize. The allocated sum was 20,000l, to be paid to the owners of the first ships to successfully make such a passage.
The Act established a group of commissioners to determine the validity of any claims, and restricted the scope of the Act to only apply to British subjects. It further required all British subjects to provide help and assistance to the explorers when required.
The Act was repealed by section 9 of the Discovery of Longitude at Sea, etc. Act 1818 (58 Geo.3 c.20).
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
of the Parliament of Great Britain
Parliament of Great Britain
The Parliament of Great Britain was formed in 1707 following the ratification of the Acts of Union by both the Parliament of England and Parliament of Scotland...
passed in 1745 and repealed in 1818. It offered a public reward for the successful discovery of a Northwest Passage
Northwest Passage
The Northwest Passage is a sea route through the Arctic Ocean, along the northern coast of North America via waterways amidst the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans...
from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
The preamble to the Act stated the expected economic benefits of the discovery of the passage, and that it would be "a great encouragement to adventurers" to offer a prize. The allocated sum was 20,000l, to be paid to the owners of the first ships to successfully make such a passage.
The Act established a group of commissioners to determine the validity of any claims, and restricted the scope of the Act to only apply to British subjects. It further required all British subjects to provide help and assistance to the explorers when required.
The Act was repealed by section 9 of the Discovery of Longitude at Sea, etc. Act 1818 (58 Geo.3 c.20).