Glasgow's tobacco lords : an examination of wealth creators in the eighteenth century
This thesis examines the group known as the 'tobacco lords' of Glasgow who made up the inner circle or elite of merchants trading to the American colonies in tobacco during the greater part of the eighteenth century, c. 1700 - 1780. As much work has already been done in the past to explain these merchants' activities and successes in the economic sphere, this thesis focuses instead on the social and ideological history of this group as related to their particular eighteenth-century environment in the city of Glasgow. This examination starts with an attempt to establish the criteria under which the personnel can be justifiably viewed as forming this inner circle; and thus establishes their numbers and origins and examines the process of their growth and expansion as they absorb new members in successive waves, as the importance and size of this elite develops throughout the eighteenth century with the expansion of the tobacco trade. The thesis then examines their business policies and the qualities which arose from this to give them success in their commercial ventures. Next, having established their place in the expanding commercial life of the city, the thesis turns to the less measurable aspects of their
Peters, Carolyn Marie
DA Great Britain ; HD Industries. Land use. Labor
Glasgow's tobacco lords : an examination of wealth creators in the eighteenth century. This thesis examines the group known as the 'tobacco lords' of Glasgow who made up the inner circle or elite of merchants trading to the American colonies in tobacco during the greater part of the eighteenth century, c. 1700 - 1780. As much work has already been done in the past to explain these merchants' activities and successes in the economic sphere, this thesis focuses instead on the social and ideological history of this group as related to their particular eighteenth-century environment in the city of Glasgow. This examination starts with an attempt to establish the criteria under which the personnel can be justifiably viewed as forming this inner circle; and thus establishes their numbers and origins and examines the process of their growth and expansion as they absorb new members in successive waves, as the importance and size of this elite develops throughout the eighteenth century with the expansion of the tobacco trade. The thesis then examines their business policies and the qualities which arose from this to give them success in their commercial ventures. Next, having established their place in the expanding commercial life of the city, the thesis turns to the less measurable aspects of their
glasgow tobacco lord examination wealth creator examine group_know tobacco lord glasgow make inner_circle elite merchant trade american colony tobacco great part much work already past explain merchant activity successes economic_sphere focus_instead social_ideological history group relate particular eighteenth_century environment city glasgow examination start attempt_establish criterion personnel view forming inner_circle thus establish number origin examines process growth expansion absorb new member successive wave importance size elite develop throughout expansion tobacco trade examines business policy quality arise give success commercial venture next established place expand commercial life_city turn less measurable aspect