SS Great Britain
SS Great Britain is completed for service but remains delayed by limitations in Bristol Harbour.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1844 in Great Britain
Explore 39 historical events and records for Great Britain in 1844.
Historical records for Great Britain in 1844
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 39 of 39 unique records.
39Unique records
1 of 1Page
33Named events on this page
22Named people on this page
11Places on this page
March
July
South Devon Railway Act Secured
Parliament authorises the South Devon Railway, enabling Brunel's route from Exeter toward Plymouth to proceed.
Bank Charter Act
The Bank Charter Act links additional note issue to gold and centralises English banknote issuance.
Bank Charter Act
The Bank Charter Act links additional note issuance to gold and centralises English note issue.
Issue Department
Cotton helps implement separate Issue and Banking Departments under the Bank Charter Act.
Issue Department
Cotton implements separate Issue and Banking Departments under the Bank Charter Act.
October
Birth of Alfred
Birth of Alfred, 4th child of Queen Vicroria & Prince Albert
December
Birth of Alexndra
Birth of Alexndra
SS Great Britain
SS Great Britain finally leaves Bristol Floating Harbour after modifications are made to the harbour locks.
Other events (month unknown)
Ashley Cooper Challenges Twelve Hour Framework
Ashley Cooper argued for stronger restrictions than the twelve hour limits incorporated in existing factory legislation.
Atmospheric Traction Recommended to South Devon
Brunel recommends atmospheric propulsion for the South Devon Railway, expecting savings and greater freedom in gradients and curves.
Bank Charter Act
The Bank Charter Act links new note issue closely to the Bank of England's gold holdings, reinforcing convertibility and the institutional operation of the gold standard.
Birth of Albert
Birth of Albert, 2nd eldest son & 4th child of Victoria & Albert
Birth of Albert
Birth of Albert, 2nd eldest son & 4th child of Victoria & Albert
Birth of Alfred
Birth of Alfred, 4th child of Queen Vicroria & Prince Albert
Brunel Lock Chamber Reconfigured
The rebuilt southern entrance was planned to accommodate larger steamships than the earlier Bristol dock entrance.
Coningsby
Publication of "Coningsby"
Death of Henry Addington
Death of Henry Addington
Factory Act Requires Dangerous Machinery Fencing
Home Secretary James Graham was associated with the 1844 Factories Act which strengthened safeguards around hazardous machinery.
Factory Inspectors Enforce Machinery Standards
Factory inspectors including Leonard Horner worked to enforce new machine guarding and workplace safeguards enacted in 1844.
Factory Machinery Safety Requirements Expanded
The 1844 legislation addressed dangerous machinery and strengthened requirements intended to reduce workplace injuries.
Fielden Supports Shorter Factory Workday
Fielden supported further limits on labour time even after revised factory regulations were enacted.
Free Trade Debate Broadens
Arguments about tariffs and grain prices remained central to the liberal public debate surrounding Napier's editorship.
Free Trade Editorial Campaign
Economist founder James Wilson continued publishing arguments for free trade and against protection at a time when tariffs dominated British economic politics.
Graham Introduces Revised Factory Regulation
Home Secretary James Graham brought forward factory legislation amid vigorous debate over limiting the working day.
Great Western Operates With Paddle Propulsion
The ship continued using paddle wheels while the marine industry increasingly considered screw propulsion for new vessels.
Hungerford Bridge Deck Construction Advances
Construction progressed on the walkway suspended from the large iron chains over the Thames.
Knighthood
Awarded a knighthood
League Distributes Free Trade Literature
Campaigners circulated pamphlets and newspapers to challenge claims that repeal would ruin British farming.
Legislation
Reforms the 1840 Railways Act controlling profits on railways. Provides for at least 1 cheap train to run each weekday
Moving Machinery Cleaning Is Restricted
The 1844 Factories Act prohibited children and young people from cleaning dangerous mill machinery while it was moving.
New Factory Act Revises Child Hours
The 1844 Factory Act revised the hours and conditions under which younger children could work in textile factories.
Peerage
Enters the Lords as a Baronet
Reform of Railways
Reforms the 1840 Railways Act controlling profits on railways. Provides for at least 1 cheap train to run each weekday
Resignation of Edward Stanley
Resigns from Peels Cabinet when it is decided to repeal the Corn Laws
Rochdale Pioneers
The first store is opened by the Rochdale pioneers, influenced by Robert Owen
Solicitor General
Appointedicitor General
Women Receive Twelve Hour Limit
The 1844 Factory Act imposed a twelve hour working day limit on women employed in covered textile factories.
Women Receive Twelve Hour Protection
The 1844 Factories Act applied a twelve hour daily limit to women employed in covered textile factories.
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.