Handel's Naturalisation Act 1727
| Act of Parliament | |
 13 Geo. 1. c. 2 | |
| Dates | |
|---|---|
| Royal assent | 20 February 1727 |
An Act for naturalizing Louis Sechehaye, George Frideric Handel, Anthony Furstenau and Michael Schlegel (
Act of the Parliament of Great Britain with the intent of naturalising German-born composer George Frideric Handel and other foreigners as British subjects
.
Background
In 1723, Handel had been appointed as Composer of Music for King George I of Great Britain's Chapel Royal. He was also expected to teach the princesses of the Royal Family; however, the Schism Act 1714 prohibited foreigners from officially teaching without a licence from a bishop, though there was an exemption in the law for educating children of nobility.[2]
Process
On 13 February 1727, a petition was presented to the
Second Reading, Handel took the oaths in the presence of the House of Lords.[5] The certificate that he had accepted communion with the Church of England was also presented,[3] though it was suggested that Handel accepted just to conform with the law and maintained elements of his Lutheranism while praising the Church of England for affording him protection under which he would not "suffer any molestation or inconvenience on account of his religious principles."[6] The bill was passed by Parliament and was granted royal assent by the King a few days later,[3] at which point Handel and the others became subjects of the Kingdom of Great Britain
.
References
- ^ "Private Act, 13 George I, c. 2 [Handel's Naturalisation Act]". Parliamentary Archives Catalogue. Archived from the original on 1 March 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- ^ ISBN 978-1783270613.
- ^ a b c "British Citizen by Act of Parliament: George Frideric Handel". Parliament. 14 April 2009. Archived from the original on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- ^ Hansard (1726), 36
- ^ Hansard (1726), 37
- ISBN 978-0979478505.
Sources
- Hansard (1726). "13 Geo". Journal of the House of Lords. Vol. 23. H.M. Stationery Office.