Denization

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Anthony Van Dyck
, a denizen from 1638
Look up denizen in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Denization is an obsolete or defunct process in

British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act 1914
simplified the naturalisation process.

Denization occurred by a grant of letters patent,[1] an exercise of the royal prerogative. Denizens paid a fee and took an oath of allegiance to the crown. For example, when Venetian mariner Gabriel Corbet was granted letters of denization in 1431 for service upon the seas to Henry V and Henry VI, he was required to pay 40 shillings into the hanaper for the privilege.[2]

The status of denizen allowed a foreigner to purchase property, although a denizen could not inherit property.

Sir William Blackstone wrote "A denizen is a kind of middle state, between an alien and a natural-born subject, and partakes of both."[3] The denizen had limited political rights: he could vote, but could not be a member of parliament or hold any civil or military office of trust.[1] Denizenship has also been compared to the Roman civitas sine suffragio, although the rights of denizens were restricted by the Act of Settlement 1701, not by common or immemorial law.[4]

Denization was expressly preserved by the

Prince of Pless applied for it in 1933, and instructed him to apply for naturalisation instead.[7] The British Nationality Act 1948
, a major reform of citizenship law in Britain, made no mention of denization and neither abolished nor preserved the practice.

Denization, as an exercise of royal power, was applicable throughout the British dominion to all British subjects. That is, it was exercisable in the colonies. For example, denization occurred in the colony of New South Wales. As in Britain, the practice became obsolete to naturalisation, with the last known denization in 1848.[8]

The term denizen may also refer to any

Indian Citizenship Act
, made all Native Americans born in the United States and its territories American citizens.

  1. ^ See Early British Nationality Law

See also

References

  1. ^ a b  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Denizen". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 8 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 22.
  2. ^ Susan Rose, "Corbet, Gabriel (fl. 1427–1454)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004
  3. ^ Blackstone: Commentaries, Book 1, Chapter X, p374
  4. ^ Berry, p.491; the restrictions originally applied to naturalised citizens also.
  5. ^ Chisholm 1911.
  6. ^ "Nationality instructions: volume 2 - Publications - GOV.UK". ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk.
  7. ^ Berry, p.490
  8. ^ Anthea.Brown (16 December 2015). "Naturalization / Citizenship Guide". www.records.nsw.gov.au.
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