The Limited Liability Act 1855 (18 & 19 Vict. c. 133) was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that first expressly allowed limited liability for corporations that could be established by the general public in England and Wales as well as Ireland.[2] The Act did not apply to Scotland,[3] where the limited liability of shareholders for the debts company debts had been recognised since the mid-Eighteenth century with the decision in the case of Stevenson v McNair.[4] Although the validity of the decision in that case had come to be doubted by the mid-Nineteenth century,[5] the Joint Stock Companies Act 1856 – which applied across the UK – put the matter beyond doubt, settling that Scottish 'companies' could be possessed of both separate legal personality and limited liability.
Under the Act, shareholders were still liable directly to creditors, for the unpaid portion of their shares. The modern principle that shareholders are liable to the corporation was introduced by the Joint Stock Companies Act 1844.
The 1855 Act allowed limited liability to companies of more than 25 members (shareholders). Insurance companies were excluded from the act, though it was standard practice for insurance contracts to exclude action against individual members. Limited liability for insurance companies was allowed by the Companies Act 1862.
Debateedit
In the House of Lords, a considerable amount of opposition existed to the idea that companies should have the advantage of limited liability. Many peers objected to what appeared to them as the government rushing through the bill as if its urgency was connected to the effort in the Crimean War. Earl Grey was one of these. He said,[6]
It proposes to depart from the old-established maxim that all the partners are individually liable for the whole of the debts of the concern.
it appears to me that a time of war is the very time which you ought to free commerce from restrictions, and, therefore that the reason he mentioned is an especial reason for pressing on the Bill instead of retarding it.
Gibbons, David. The Limited Liability Act, 18th & 19th Victoria, Cap. 133. John Weale. High Holborn, London. 1855.
Paterson, W (ed). "Limited Liability Act". The Practical Statutes of the Session 1855. John Crockford. Essex Street, Strand, London. Pages 556 to 570.
Harris, R. (2000). Industrialising English Law: Entrepreneurship and Business Organisation, 1720–1844. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. ISBN0-521-66275-3.
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. ISBN0-19-928531-4.
Amsler, C.F.; et al. (1981). "Thoughts of some British economists on early limited liability and corporate legislation". History of Political Economy. 13 (4): 774–93. doi:10.1215/00182702-13-4-774.
Notesedit
^This short title was conferred on this Act by section 19 of this Act.
^Kenneth G. C. Reid, 'Embalmed in Rettie: The City of Glasgow Bank and the Liability of Trustees' in Andrew Burrows, David Johnston and Reinhard Zimmermann (Eds.), [Judge and Jurist: Essays in Memory of Lord Rodger of Earlsferry], (Oxford University Press, 2013), at 492
limited, liability, 1855, vict, parliament, united, kingdom, that, first, expressly, allowed, limited, liability, corporations, that, could, established, general, public, england, wales, well, ireland, apply, scotland, where, limited, liability, shareholders, . The Limited Liability Act 1855 18 amp 19 Vict c 133 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that first expressly allowed limited liability for corporations that could be established by the general public in England and Wales as well as Ireland 2 The Act did not apply to Scotland 3 where the limited liability of shareholders for the debts company debts had been recognised since the mid Eighteenth century with the decision in the case of Stevenson v McNair 4 Although the validity of the decision in that case had come to be doubted by the mid Nineteenth century 5 the Joint Stock Companies Act 1856 which applied across the UK put the matter beyond doubt settling that Scottish companies could be possessed of both separate legal personality and limited liability Limited Liability Act 1855 1 Act of ParliamentParliament of the United KingdomLong titleAn Act for limiting the Liability of Members of certain Joint Stock Companies Citation18 amp 19 Vict c 133DatesRoyal assent14 August 1855Other legislationRepealed byJoint Stock Companies Act 1856Status RepealedText of statute as originally enacted Contents 1 Overview 2 Debate 3 See also 4 Bibliography 5 NotesOverview editUnder the Act shareholders were still liable directly to creditors for the unpaid portion of their shares The modern principle that shareholders are liable to the corporation was introduced by the Joint Stock Companies Act 1844 The 1855 Act allowed limited liability to companies of more than 25 members shareholders Insurance companies were excluded from the act though it was standard practice for insurance contracts to exclude action against individual members Limited liability for insurance companies was allowed by the Companies Act 1862 Debate editIn the House of Lords a considerable amount of opposition existed to the idea that companies should have the advantage of limited liability Many peers objected to what appeared to them as the government rushing through the bill as if its urgency was connected to the effort in the Crimean War Earl Grey was one of these He said 6 It proposes to depart from the old established maxim that all the partners are individually liable for the whole of the debts of the concern Earl Granville replied to these concerns as follows 7 it appears to me that a time of war is the very time which you ought to free commerce from restrictions and therefore that the reason he mentioned is an especial reason for pressing on the Bill instead of retarding it See also editCompanies Act Companies Act 2006 Joint Stock Companies Act 1844 Joint Stock Companies Act 1856 Utopia LimitedBibliography editGibbons David The Limited Liability Act 18th amp 19th Victoria Cap 133 John Weale High Holborn London 1855 Paterson W ed Limited Liability Act The Practical Statutes of the Session 1855 John Crockford Essex Street Strand London Pages 556 to 570 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 amp Ryan on Company Law London Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 928531 4 Amsler C F et al 1981 Thoughts of some British economists on early limited liability and corporate legislation History of Political Economy 13 4 774 93 doi 10 1215 00182702 13 4 774 Notes edit This short title was conferred on this Act by section 19 of this Act Mayson French and Ryan 2005 55 Limited Liability Act 1855 s 18 1757 14667 Kenneth G C Reid Embalmed in Rettie The City of Glasgow Bank and the Liability of Trustees in Andrew Burrows David Johnston and Reinhard Zimmermann Eds Judge and Jurist Essays in Memory of Lord Rodger of Earlsferry Oxford University Press 2013 at 492 HL Debs vol col 1904 7 August 1855 HL Debs vol col 1903 7 August 1855 https api parliament uk historic hansard lords 1855 aug 07 limited liability bill S3V0139P0 18550807 HOL 4 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Limited Liability Act 1855 amp oldid 1176775047, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
