Elites, Enterprise, and the Making of the British Overseas Empire, 1688-1775

This book examines the cultural, economic, and social forces that shaped the development of the British empire in the eighteenth century. The empire is placed in a broad historiographical context informed by important recent work on the 'fiscal-military state', and 'gentlemanly capitalism'. This allows the empire to be seen not as a series of discrete, unconnected geographical regions scattered across the world, but as a commercial, cultural, and social body with its roots very firmly planted in metropolitan society. Between 1688 And 1775 Britain Developed And Expanded A Large Territorial Empire In North America, India And The West Indies. Instead Of Concentrating On The Factors Which Led To The Eventual Dissolution Of The 'first British Empire', This Book Examines The Cultural, Economic And Social Forces That Gave That Empire A Sense Of Coherence And Structure Before The American Revolution. By Focusing On The Part Played By Elites In Shaping The British Overseas Presence, And By Considering The Implications Of Economic And Social Developments In Britain Itself, The Eighteenth-century Empire Is Placed In A Broad Historiographical Context Informed By Important Recent Work On The 'fiscal-military State', 'gentlemanly Capitalism', And Identities. This Allows The Empire To Be Seen Not As A Series Of Unconnected Territorial Possessions Scattered Across The World, But As A Commercial, Cultural And Social Body Of Reasonably Sharp Definition With Its Roots Very Firmly Planted In Metropolitan Society. 1. Historians And The Eighteenth-century Empire -- 2. The Dynamics Of Expansion -- 3. Gentlemen And Entrepreneurs: Landowners, Merchants And Bankers -- 4. Investment In Empire -- 5. Imperial Ties And The Anglicization Of The Overseas Empire -- 6. Merchants, Planters And The Gentlemanly Ideal -- 7. The End Of The English Empire -- 8. Enterprise And Expansion: Drawing A Line. H.v. Bowen. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 197-251) And Index. COVER......Page 1 CONTENTS......Page 8 PREFACE......Page 10 PART ONE: CONTEXTS AND CONTOURS......Page 16 1 Historians and the Eighteenth-Century Empire......Page 18 2 The Dynamics of Expansion......Page 37 PART TWO: METROPOLITAN ELITES AND THE OVERSEAS EMPIRE......Page 60 3 Gentlemen and Entrepreneurs: Landowners, Merchants and Bankers......Page 62 4 Investment in Empire......Page 94 PART THREE: OVERSEAS ELITES IN THE BRITISH EMPIRE......Page 116 5 Imperial Ties and the Anglicization of the Overseas Empire......Page 118 6 Merchants, Planters and the Gentlemanly Ideal......Page 140 PART FOUR: A NEW IMPERIAL ORDER, 1750–75......Page 162 7 The End of the English Empire......Page 164 8 Enterprise and Expansion: Drawing a Line......Page 186 AFTERWORD......Page 209 NOTES......Page 212 BIBLIOGRAPHY......Page 252 INDEX......Page 267