| Act of Parliament | |
.svg) | |
| Long title | An Act for naturalizing Foreign Protestants.[b] |
|---|---|
| Citation | |
| Territorial extent | Great Britain |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 23 March 1709 |
| Commencement | 16 November 1708[e] |
| Repealed | 1 January 1915 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amended by | |
| Repealed by | British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act 1914 |
| Relates to | Naturalization Act 1714 |
Status: Repealed | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Naturalization Act 1711 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
| |
| Long title | An Act to repeal the Act of the Seventh Year of Her Majesty's Reign, intituled, "An Act for naturalizing Foreign Protestants," except what relates to the Children of Her Majesty's Natural-born Subjects, born out of Her Majesty's Allegiance. |
| Citation | |
| Territorial extent | Great Britain |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 9 February 1712 |
| Commencement | 7 December 1711[f] |
| Repealed | 15 July 1867 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amends | Foreign Protestants Naturalization Act 1708 |
| Repealed by | Statute Law Revision Act 1867 |
| Relates to | Naturalization Act 1714 |
Status: Repealed | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
TheForeign Protestants Naturalization Act 1708 (7 Ann. c. 5)[c], sometimes referred to as theForeign and Protestants Naturalization Act 1708,[1] was anact of theParliament of Great Britain. The act was passed on 23 March 1709, which was still considered part of the year 1708 in theBritish calendar of the time.[2] It was passed to allow thenaturalisation of French Protestants (Huguenots) who had fled to Britain since therevocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685. It was one of theBritish Subjects Acts 1708 to 1772.[3]
TheWhig majority in Parliament passed the act with the support of both Houses of Parliament, despite some opposition concerning a "conflux of aliens that would be invited over". A counter-argument is presented in the preamble of the act, that "the increase of people is a means of advancing the wealth and strength of a nation".
The effect of the act was that all foreign Protestants could be naturalised, provided they swore allegiance to the government and receivedsacrament in any Protestant church. Following the passage of the act, up to 12,000Palatines,Suabians, and other GermanLutherans arrived in Britain between May and June 1709, owing to war in those places. Some GermanCatholics who arrived were sent back, and some immigrants were sent on toIreland,New York andCarolina.
The act was largely repealed by theTories in 1711 by theNaturalization Act 1711 (10 Ann. c. 9)[c].[4] The section dealing with naturalizing the children of British subjects born abroad was, however, not repealed.[5][6] This section says "3. ... the children of all natural born subjects born out of the ligeance of her Majesty her heires and successors shall be deemed adjudged and taken to be natural born subjects of this kingdom to all intents constructions and purposes whatsoever."[7]
