1742: 15 George 2 c.30: An act to prevent the Marriage of Lunatics.

[4 Geo. 2. c. 10.]

‘WHEREAS Persons who have the Misfortune to become Lunatics, may, by reason of such their Disorder, be liable to be surprised into unsuitable Marriages, which may be of pernicious Consequence, and a great Misfortune to their Families:’ Wherefore, for preventing the same, and the ill Consequence thereof, Be it enacted by the King’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same,

[Lunatick not to marry till declared of sane Mind by the Lord Chancellor, &c.]

That from and after the twenty-fourth Day of June in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty two, in case any Person who now is, or at any Time hereafter shall be found a Lunatic, by any Inquisition taken or to be taken by virtue of a Commission under the Great seal of Great Britain; or any Lunatic or Person under a Phrenzy, whose Person and Estate by virtue of any Act of Parliament, now are, or hereafter shall be committed to the Care and Custody of particular Trustees, shall marry before he or she shall be declared of sane Mind by the Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, the Lord Keeper or Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal of Great Britain for the Time being, or such Trustees as aforesaid, or the Major Part of them respectively; such Marriage shall be, and is hereby declared to be null and void to all Intents and Purposes whatsoever.

Source: Ruffhead, Statutes at Large, volume 6.