Act for Encouraging the Linen Manufacture of Ireland

An Act for Encouraging the Linen Manufacture of Ireland is passed — Irish linen gains duty-free access to the British market on this date. This legislation marked a significant turning point for Ireland’s textile industry, especially the linen sector, which had long struggled under restrictive trade policies. By granting Irish linen producers duty-free access to the lucrative British market, the Act aimed to stimulate economic development in Ireland and promote local manufacturing. The move was welcomed by both Irish landlords and industrialists, particularly in Ulster, where the linen trade became a central pillar of the region’s economy. It also helped reduce Ireland’s economic dependence on agriculture and contributed to the rise of a Protestant merchant class closely tied to industrial expansion.