Events for April 17

April 17, 1783

The British Renunciation Act acknowledges the exclusive right of the Irish parliament and courts to make and administer laws for Ireland

The Irish Appeals Act 1783 (23 Geo. 3. c. 28), commonly known as the Renunciation Act, was an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain. By it the British Parliament renounced all right to legislate for Ireland, and declared that no appeal from the decision of any court in Ireland could be heard in any court in Great Britain.

April 17, 1895

Scotlands first cremation at Glasgow's Western Necropolis.

Western Necropolis is a cemetery complex in Glasgow, Scotland located to the north of the city centre. As well as the actual Western Necropolis cemetery established in 1882, it is bordered by Lambhill Cemetery which opened in 1881, St Kentigern’s Cemetery (Roman Catholic) that opened in 1882, and Glasgow (Garnethill) Hebrew Burial Ground founded in 1989.

April 17, 1341

Edinburgh Castle taken from English, reversing English encroachments against independent Scotland

Edinburgh Castle started to develop into a royal fortress during the reign of David I from 1124 to 1153.

April 17, 1969

Everyone in Britain over the age of 18 was allowed to vote in parliamentary elections

The Representation of the People Act 1969 lowered the voting age from 21 to 18, the first major country to do so. The Representation of the People Act 1985 gave British citizens abroad the right to vote for a five-year period after they had left the United Kingdom. The Representation of the People Act 1989 extended the period to 20 years; and citizens who were too young to vote when they left the country also became eligible.