The Maguire Act of 1895 (, enacted February 18, 1895) is a
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
Federal statute
In the law of the United States, the Code of Laws of the United States of America (variously abbreviated to Code of Laws of the United States, United States Code, U.S. Code, U.S.C., or USC) is the official compilation and codification of the ...
that abolished the practice of imprisoning sailors who deserted from coastwise vessels. The act was sponsored by representative
James G. Maguire
James George Maguire (February 22, 1853 – June 20, 1920) was an American politician and Georgist who served three terms as a U.S. Representative from California from 1893 to 1899.
Early life and education
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Ma ...
of
San Francisco
San Francisco (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Francis of Assisi, Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the List of Ca ...
,
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
.
Before this legislation, a right to leave the ship existed only for a seaman who "correctly" believed his life to be in danger.
This law extended the right in cases where the seaman feared physical abuse from other shipboard personnel.
Notes
References
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See also
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White Act of 1898 The White Act of 1898 (30 Stat755, formally known as An Act To amend the laws relating to American seamen, for the protection of such seamen, and to promote commerce, is a United States Federal statute governing mariners in the United States Merchan ...
*
Dingley Act of 1884
The Dingley Act of 1884 was a United States law introduced by U.S. Representative Nelson Dingley, Jr. of Maine dealing with American mariners serving in the United States Merchant Marine.
Among other things, the act:
*prohibited advances on wag ...
*
Shanghaiing
Shanghaiing or crimping is the practice of kidnapping people to serve as sailors by coercive techniques such as trickery, intimidation, or violence. Those engaged in this form of kidnapping were known as ''crimps''. The related term ''press gang'' ...
*
Maritime history of the United States
The maritime history of the United States is a broad theme within the history of the United States. As an academic subject, it crosses the boundaries of standard disciplines, focusing on understanding the United States' relationship with the ocea ...
*
Shipping Commissioners Act of 1872 The Shipping Commissioners Act of 1872 was a United States law dealing with American mariners serving in the United States Merchant Marine.
Among other things, the act:
*was passed to combat crimps.Bauer, 1988:284.
*required that a sailor had to s ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maguire Act Of 1895
1895 in American law
United States federal admiralty and maritime legislation