Joint Stock Companies Act 1856

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The Joint Stock Companies Act 1856 was a consolidating statute, recognised as the founding piece of modern UK company law legislation.

Unlike other Acts of Parliament that preceded it, the 1856 Act provided a simple administrative procedure by which any group of seven people could register a limited liability company for themselves.

It was introduced to Parliament by the then Vice President of the Board of Trade, Mr Robert Lowe. In doing so he proclaimed the right of every citizen to have freedom of contract and with it obtain limited liability for operating a business.

[edit] See also

• Joint Stock Companies Act 1844
• Limited Liability Act 1855

[edit] Bibliography

• Harris, R. (2000). Industrialising English Law: Entrepreneurship and Business Organisation, 1720–1844. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-66275-3. 
• Hunt, B.C. (1936). The Development of the Business Corporation in England, 1800–1867. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. 
• Mayson, S.W et al. (2005). Mayson, French & Ryan on Company Law. London: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-928531-4. 

[edit] Notes