Passports

[davver]

When was the passport in it's current form introduced to the UK?

[mikewith]

From a fairly recent edition of the Answerbank newsletter:

The passport has a surprisingly long history. As early as 1436 an Act of Parliament refers to them and provides for 'Safe Conducts' for citizens overseas. And the Act generously asks of its own populace that they not injure or rob any foreigners carrying similar papers! Every passport had to be signed by the monarch. One of the oldest passports still in existence, signed by Charles I, was issued on 18 June 1641. The latest passport still in existence with a royal autograph, was signed by King George III in March 1794 for one Robert Liston Esq. He'd presumably had quite enough of the hat tax and wanted to leave the country.

Luckily for the present Queen that practise has ended - or she'd be signing five million new passports every year. The modern passport, including a grim photograph designed to embarrass the bearer, dates from 1914. Until 1984, your passport listed your occupation.