Cruel Treatment of Cattle Act 1822

The Cruel Treatment of Cattle Act 1822 (3 Geo. 4. c. 71) was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom with the long title "An Act to prevent the cruel and improper Treatment of Cattle"; it is sometimes known as Martin's Act, after the MP and animal welfare campaigner Richard Martin.^[1] It is the first known piece of animal welfare legislation in the world.^[2]

Cruel Treatment of Cattle Act 1822

Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to prevent the cruel and improper Treatment of Cattle.
Citation	3 Geo. 4. c. 71
Dates
Royal assent	22 July 1822
Other legislation
Amended by	Cruelty to Animals Act 1835
Repealed by	Cruelty to Animals Act 1849
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted

A painting of the trial of Bill Burns, the world's first known conviction for animal cruelty under the 1822 Martin's Act, after Burns was found beating his donkey. The prosecution was brought by Richard Martin, also known as "Humanity Dick", and the case became memorable because he brought the donkey into court.

The act listed "ox, cow, heifer, steer, sheep, or other cattle". This was held not to include bulls. A further act, the Cruelty to Animals Act 1835 (5 & 6 Will. 4. c. 59, s. 2) extended the wording of this act to remedy the issue.^[3]

This act was repealed and superseded by the Cruelty to Animals Act 1849.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Animal welfare in the United Kingdom