Act of Grace

1717

The Act of Grace was a general pardon issued in July, 1717 by George I, to those accused of participating in the Jacobite rising of 1715. Under the terms of the Act of Grace several hundred imprisoned Jacobites - including many under sentence of death - were released. By the time the Act was proclaimed, the major ringleaders of the 1715 rebellion had been executed and over 600 Jacobites had been exiled overseas. The pardon only applied to those in prison, and did not extend to Jacobites who had escaped capture.

Time period(s): Georgian