Bubble Act

Royal Exchange and London Assurance Corporation Act 1719
Act of Parliament
Long titleAn Act for better securing certain Powers and Privileges intended to be granted by His Majesty by Two Charters for Assurance of Ships and Merchandizes at Sea, and for lending Money on Bottomry; and for restraining several extravagant and unwarrantable Practices therein mentioned.
Citation6 Geo. 1. c. 18
Territorial extent Great Britain

Later extended to American colonies, including:

Dates
Royal assent11 June 1720
Repealed5 July 1825
Other legislation
Amended by
Repealed byRoyal Exchange Assurance Act 1901
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted

The Bubble Act 1720 (also Royal Exchange and London Assurance Corporation Act 1719)[1] was an act of the Parliament of Great Britain passed on 11 June 1720 that incorporated the Royal Exchange Assurance Corporation and London Assurance Corporation, but more significantly forbade the formation of any other joint-stock companies unless approved by royal charter.

Bubble Schemes (Colonies) Act 1740
Act of Parliament
Long titleAn Act for restraining and preventing several unwarrantable Schemes and Undertakings in His Majesty's Colonies and Plantations in America.
Citation14 Geo. 2. c. 37
Dates
Royal assent25 April 1741
Repealed15 July 1867
Other legislation
Repealed byStatute Law Revision Act 1867
Relates to
  • Royal Exchange and London Assurance Corporation Act 1719
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted

Its provisions were extended later by the Bubble Schemes (Colonies) Act 1740 (14 Geo. 2. c. 37)[2] to include its colonies, particularly Massachusetts.[3]

The act gave the South Sea Company a monopoly over British trade with South America[4] until the South Sea Bubble "popped" in Britain's first major stock market collapse.

  1. ^ An Act for better securing certain Powers and Privileges intended to be granted by His Majesty by Two Charters for Assurance of Ships and Merchandizes at Sea, and for lending Money on Bottomry; and for restraining several extravagant and unwarrantable Practices therein mentioned, 6 Geo 1. c. 18
  2. ^ An Act for restraining and preventing several unwarrantable Schemes and Undertakings in His Majesty's Colonies and Plantations in America, 14 Geo. 2. c. 37
  3. ^ Savelle, Max (1974). Empires to Nations: Expansion in America, 1713-1824. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. p. 43. ISBN 0-8166-0709-5.
  4. ^ Castelow, Ellen. "The South Sea Bubble of 1720". Historic UK. Retrieved 31 July 2019.