3. c. 45) was an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain which removed the requirement for the Bank of England to convert banknotes into gold.

When news of this event, now known as the Battle of Fishguard, became known in London, a much greater run on the Bank of England was feared, had a large number of holders of banknotes attempted to convert them into gold when bullion reserves were heavily reduced.

[4] British banknotes were overprinted by the government of William Pitt the Younger after Britain declared war on revolutionary France in 1793.

However, by 1821, and with radical economic policies instigated by Sir Robert Peel (the future Prime Minister, acting as Chairman of the Bullion Committee), this situation was reversed, and with £2,295,360 of notes in circulation being backed by £11,233,390 of bullion,[3] the British government resumed "convertibility" on 1 May 1821 (two years ahead of schedule).

After the passing of the act, Richard Brinsley Sheridan publicly bemoaned the way in which the Bank of England had fallen under the influence of William Pitt the Younger by describing the institution as "An elderly lady in the City, of great credit and long standing who had unfortunately fallen into bad company".