Talk:Sophia Naturalization Act 1705

"However, Sophia was of German citizenship. This Act naturalized her and "the issue of her body" as British subjects."

Was there any such thing as a 'British subject' in 1705? The Act of Union had not yet been passed. JAJ 03:05, 23 September 2005 (UTC)

For that matter, was there such a thing as German citizenship at that time? I'd think it'd be Hanoverian, if anything... 209.6.230.71 17:00, 3 January 2006 (UTC)

No, indeed there was no such thing as German citizenship until as late as 1913, when it was grounded in legislation, albeit as a consequence of being a citizen of one of the Länder. Up until then "Germans" were citizens of Prussia, Bavaria, etc. (http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deutsche_Staatsangehörigkeit#Rechtspolitische_Geschichte_der_Deutschen_Staatsangehörigkeit) --Dub8lad1 19:32, 27 May 2006 (UTC)

There was, most likely, neither such thing as one Germany nor citizenship of the particular German states. In most countries citizenship was introduced around 1800 or later. If Britain had citizenship in 1705, they were quite early on it. However, I think the talk is about British subjects here, which is not quite the same concept as citizenship. --213.237.69.51 16:21, 29 May 2006 (UTC)


 * See for example "That after the said limitation shall take effect as aforesaid, no person born out of the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, or Ireland, or the dominions thereunto belonging (although he be naturalized or made a denizen, except such as are born of English parents) shall be capable to be of the Privy Council, or a member of either House of Parliament, or to enjoy any office or place of trust, either civil or military, or to have any grant of lands, tenements or hereditaments from the Crown, to himself or to any other or others in trust for him" from the Act of Settlement 1701 --SE16 17:57, 16 April 2007 (UTC)

Spelling
Should this article, about a British law, really use American English spelling? Guettarda 01:57, 7 December 2006 (UTC)

It seems to be the spelling used in the Act itself. Kurando | ^_^ 09:28, 7 December 2006 (UTC)


 * Interesting. I suppose in the 1700s spellings hadn't standaridised.  Thanks.  Guettarda 13:38, 7 December 2006 (UTC)


 * There's nothing American about the Oxford spelling (except its being used in American English as well). -- Jao (talk) 14:12, 7 April 2008 (UTC)
 * I've changed it back to be consistently "naturalization". Grover cleveland (talk) 06:37, 1 December 2010 (UTC)

Has the Duke of Edinburgh been a British citizen for all his life?
Does something have to be claimed for this act to take effect or can we actually say that this class of people were British citizens all along? British nationality law says "Where such a person acquired a right of abode in the UK before 1983, it is possible for British citizenship to have been acquired," sounding like one did not, at least, become a British citizen until one moved into the UK. -- Jao (talk) 14:12, 7 April 2008 (UTC)

definition of issue

 * However, any person born to a descendant of Sophia could also claim to be the "issue of her body".

In context, this sentence seems to say that the Act defines that phrase, which is unlikely (it's common legal jargon). Rephrase it? Move it? Drop it as irrelevant? —Tamfang (talk) 05:05, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

Naturalization
If, in the present time, most people concerned who would claim citizenship would basically only reach the status of British Overseas citizen, how would one claim be naturalized on the basis of Sophia Naturalization Act 1705?

Is it just:


 * 1) being born before 1 January 1949; and
 * 2) being a descendant of Sophia of Hanover

or are there more/other conditions to determine that? Danishjaveed (talk) 10:29, 28 June 2019 (UTC)

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