Historedia
Group or institution

Bank of England

Events
3
Episodes
10
Years
1797–1867

Every event in Historedia whose sources name Bank of England, with the role they cite and all of that event’s episodes. This is not a biography, and mentions are grouped by name, so two people with the same name can share this page.

Events and episodes

  1. Bank Restriction Act

    1797

    Role: institution whose obligation to convert banknotes into gold was removed by the act

    1. 1797 · Parliament of Great BritainPassage of the Bank Restriction Act 1797

      Parliament passed the Bank Restriction Act 1797, removing the Bank of England's requirement to convert banknotes into gold.

    2. 1797 · Parliament of Great BritainAmendment and Continuation in 1797

      Two 1797 acts amended and continued the Bank Restriction Act, first to the next parliamentary session, then to the war's end.

    3. 22–24 February 1797 (invasion dates, not the act's passage) · Regional bank-run towns and the Fishguard invasion, outside allowed_placesCauses: Regional Bank Runs and the Fishguard Invasion

      Runs on banks in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Sunderland, and Durham, and a French invasion of Britain, shaped the act's timing.

  2. Bank Charter Act 1844 receives royal assent

    1844

    Role: Central Bank

    1. 1844 · United Kingdom (parliamentary jurisdiction)Passage of the Bank Charter Act 1844

      The Parliament of the United Kingdom passed the Bank Charter Act 1844 under Robert Peel's government, restricting British banks' powers and granting exclusive note-issuing rights to the Bank of England.

    2. 1844 · EnglandEstablishment of Issue Department

      The Act created a separate Issue Department at the Bank of England, setting aside £14 million in securities and bullion as backing for notes in circulation.

    3. 1844 · United KingdomCurbs on Country Banks

      The Act placed strict curbs on country banks, barring new banks of issue in any part of the United Kingdom, beginning the centralization of banknote issuance.

  3. Collapse of Overend, Gurney and Company and the Panic of 1866

    1866–1867

    Role: Central Bank

    1. 1866–1867 · LondonPolitical Reform and Agitation

      Economic impacts of the panic contributed to public agitation for political reform, leading to demonstrations and the Representation of the People Act 1867.

    2. 10 May 1866 · City of LondonCollapse of Overend, Gurney and Company

      The London wholesale discount bank collapsed owing about £11 million, triggering a banking panic and causing crowds to gather at its head offices.

    3. 12 May 1866 · LondonBank of England Response and Bagehot's Critique

      Walter Bagehot criticized the Bank of England's refusal to lend with Consol bonds, highlighting the conflict between maintaining reserves and providing liquidity.

    4. Unknown · Old BaileyTrial of Directors for Fraud

      Directors of the company were tried at the Old Bailey for fraud based on false statements in the 1865 share prospectus.

Sources

  1. Bank Restriction Act 1797 Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-24
  2. Bank Charter Act 1844 Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-28
  3. Panic of 1866 Wikipedia, revision of 2026-07-31