19 February –
Calico Acts repealed, leading to the development and mechanisation of the British cotton industry.[3]
22 February – the legal case of Donaldson v Beckett is decided in the
House of Lords, denying the continued existence of a perpetual
common law copyright and holding that
copyright is a creation of statute and can be limited in its duration.[4] This does permit authors to claim copyright in their own works.
20 April –
Life Assurance Act stipulates that people taking out
life assurance must have an interest in the life of the insured person, with the intention of eliminating the use of policies as a form of gambling.
5 October–10 November –
1774 British general election. Lord North continues as prime minister. (In Westminster,
Ignatius Sancho becomes the first person of African origin eligible to vote in Britain.)
19 February –
Calico Acts repealed, leading to the development and mechanisation of the British cotton industry.[3]
22 February – the legal case of Donaldson v Beckett is decided in the
House of Lords, denying the continued existence of a perpetual
common law copyright and holding that
copyright is a creation of statute and can be limited in its duration.[4] This does permit authors to claim copyright in their own works.
20 April –
Life Assurance Act stipulates that people taking out
life assurance must have an interest in the life of the insured person, with the intention of eliminating the use of policies as a form of gambling.
5 October–10 November –
1774 British general election. Lord North continues as prime minister. (In Westminster,
Ignatius Sancho becomes the first person of African origin eligible to vote in Britain.)