Piracy Act, 1850

Jurisdiction given to admiralty courts to inquire into cases of alleged piracy.

2. Whenever any of her Majesty’s ships or vessels of war, or hired armed vessels, or their boats, or any of the officers and crews thereof, shall attack or be engaged with any persons alleged to be pirates afloat or ashore, it shall be lawful for the High Court of Admiralty of England, and for all courts of vice admiralty in any dominions of her Majesty beyond the seas, . . . . to take cognizance of and to determine whether the persons or any of them so attacked or engaged were pirates, and to adjudge what was the total number of pirates so engaged or attacked, specifying the number of pirates captured, and what were the vessels and boats engaged.