# Factors Act 1889

The Factors Act 1889 (52 & 53 Vict. c. 45) was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that consolidated several earlier enactments related to factors in the United Kingdom.

## Passage

The Factors Bill had its first reading in the House of Lords on 19 March 1889, introduced by the Lord Chancellor, Hardinge Giffard, 1st Baron Halsbury. The bill had its second reading in the House of Lords on 6 May 1889 and was committed to the Standing Committee for Bills relating to Law, &c, which reported on 28 June 1889, with amendments. The amended bill was re-committed to a committee of the whole house, which met and reported on 1 July 1889, without amendments. The amended bill had its third reading in the House of Lords on 2 July 1889 and passed, without amendments.
The bill had its first reading in the House of Commons on 4 July 1889. The bill had its second reading in the House of Commons on 19 July 1889 and was committed to the Standing Committee on Trade, Shipping and Manufactures (including Agriculture and Fishing), which reported on 25 July 1889, with amendments. The amended bill was considered and was re-committed to a committee of the whole house on 31 July 1889, which met on 31 July 1889 and reported on 2 August 1889, with amendments. The amended bill had its third reading in the House of Commons on 2 August 1889 and passed, without amendments.
The amended bill was considered and agreed to by the House of Lords on 9 August 1889, with amendments, which were considered and agreed to by the House of Commons on 13 August 1889.
The bill was granted royal assent on 26 August 1889.

## Provisions
### Defined terms

Terms defined for the purposes of the act included:
* mercantile agent: a person who, in the customary course of his business as an agent, had authority from another person to sell, consign or buy goods, or to raise money on the security of goods
* document of title: the meaning of the term included a bill of lading and any other document used in the ordinary course of business to prove possession or control of goods
* pledge: the term included any contract pledging or giving lien or security on goods, whether in consideration of an original advance or a further or continuing advance.

### Repealed enactments

Section 14 of the act repealed four earlier enactments, listed in the schedule to the act. Section 14 of the act also provided that the repeals would not affect any right acquired or liability incurred before the commencement of the act.
| Citation | Short title | Title | Extent of repeal |
| 4 Geo. 4. c. 83 | Factor Act 1823 | An Act for the better protection of the property of merchants and others who may hereafter enter into contracts or agreements in relation to goods, wares, or merchandises entrusted to factors or agents. | The whole act. |
| 6 Geo. 4. c. 94 | Factor Act 1825 | An Act to alter and amend an Act for the better protection of the property of merchants and others who may hereafter enter into contracts or agreements in relation to goods, wares, or merchandise entrusted to factors or agents. | The whole act. |
| 5 & 6 Vict. c. 39 | Factors Act 1842 | An Act to amend the law relating to advances bonâ fide made to agents entrusted with goods. | The whole act. |
| 40 & 41 Vict. c. 39 | Factors Act 1877 | An Act to amend the Factors Acts. | The whole act. |

## Legacy

The act was described as a Consolidation Act.
The act was extended to Scotland by section 1 of the Factors (Scotland) Act 1890 (53 & 54 Vict. c. 40).