Recruiting Act 1778
Encyclopedia
The Recruiting Act 1778 is an Act of Parliament
passed by the Parliament of Great Britain
. It was a press act "for the more easy and better recruiting of his Majesty's Land Forces". After the losses at the Battle of Saratoga
in the American Revolutionary War
and the apprehended hostilities with France, the existing voluntary enlistment measures were judged to be insufficient.
It provided that each volunteer receive a bounty of £3, and that he should be entitled to discharge after three years unless the nation were at war.
It also empowered the justices of the peace to levy and deliver to the recruiting officers "all able-bodied idle, and disorderly persons, who could not upon examination prove themselves to exercise and industrially follow some lawful trade or employment, or to have some substance sufficient for their support and maintenance". A reward of 10s. was offered to the discoverer of any person liable within the provisions of the act. Impressed men could demand discharge after five years, unless the nation were at war.
Geographically its operation was confined, by the direction of the secretary of war, to Scotland and to "the City of London
, the city and liberties of Westminster
, and such parts of the County of Middlesex
as are within the Bills of Mortality". The chief advantage of this act was in the number of volunteers brought in under the apprehension of impressment.
The law received royal assent on 28 May 1778. It was repealed by section 1 of the Recruiting Act 1779
and replaced by that Act.
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...
passed by 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...
. It was a press act "for the more easy and better recruiting of his Majesty's Land Forces". After the losses at the Battle of Saratoga
Battle of Saratoga
The Battles of Saratoga conclusively decided the fate of British General John Burgoyne's army in the American War of Independence and are generally regarded as a turning point in the war. The battles were fought eighteen days apart on the same ground, south of Saratoga, New York...
in the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
and the apprehended hostilities with France, the existing voluntary enlistment measures were judged to be insufficient.
It provided that each volunteer receive a bounty of £3, and that he should be entitled to discharge after three years unless the nation were at war.
It also empowered the justices of the peace to levy and deliver to the recruiting officers "all able-bodied idle, and disorderly persons, who could not upon examination prove themselves to exercise and industrially follow some lawful trade or employment, or to have some substance sufficient for their support and maintenance". A reward of 10s. was offered to the discoverer of any person liable within the provisions of the act. Impressed men could demand discharge after five years, unless the nation were at war.
Geographically its operation was confined, by the direction of the secretary of war, to Scotland and to "the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
, the city and liberties of Westminster
Westminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
, and such parts of the County of Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
as are within the Bills of Mortality". The chief advantage of this act was in the number of volunteers brought in under the apprehension of impressment.
The law received royal assent on 28 May 1778. It was repealed by section 1 of the Recruiting Act 1779
Recruiting Act 1779
The Recruiting Act 1779 was an Act of Parliament passed by the Parliament of Great Britain. It was a press act for the recruiting of his Majesty's Land Forces. After the losses in the American Revolutionary War and the apprehended hostilities with France, the existing voluntary enlistment measures...
and replaced by that Act.