The Business of Empire: The East India Company and Imperial Britain, 1756 - 1833

The Business of Empire assesses the domestic impact of British imperial expansion by analysing what happened in Britain following the East India Company's acquisition of a vast territorial empire in South Asia. Drawing on a mass of hitherto unused material contained in the company's administrative and financial records, the book offers a reconstruction of the inner workings of the company as it made the remarkable transition from business to empire during the late-eighteenth century. H. V. Bowen profiles the company's stockholders and directors and examines how those in London adapted their methods, working practices, and policies to changing circumstances in India. He also explores the company's multifarious interactions with the domestic economy and society, and sheds important new light on its substantial contributions to the development of Britain's imperial state, public finances, military strength, trade and industry. This book will appeal to all those interested in imperial, economic and business history. Cover 1 Half-title 3 Title 5 Copyright 6 Contents 7 Figures 8 Tables 9 Preface 11 Notes on the text 14 SOURCES AND CITATIONS 14 THE ACCOUNTING YEAR 14 DATASETS 14 Abbreviations and short titles 15 Chapter 1 Introduction 17 THE SETTING: INDIA AND BRITAIN 18 WHAT WAS THE EAST INDIA COMPANY? 23 HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES AND LINES OF INQUIRY 35 Chapter 2 Relationships: city, state, and empire 45 CAPITAL AND CREDIT 45 COMPANY, STATE, AND EMPIRE 53 WAR AND THE EAST INDIA COMPANY 59 Chapter 3 Relationships: government and the Company 69 DOMESTIC INSTABILITIES 70 GOVERNANCE, REFORM, AND CONTROL 85 IMPERIAL PARTNERS 94 Chapter 4 People: investors in empire 100 PROFIT, POWER, AND PUBLIC SERVICE 100 THE STOCKHOLDING COMMUNITY: CONTINUITIES AND CHANGE 112 Chapter 5 People: Company men 134 THE DIRECTORS 135 MANAGERS, CLERKS, AND THE WORLD OF COMPANY WORK 155 Chapter 6 Methods: an empire in writing 167 LINES OF COMMUNICATION 170 ATTENTION TO DETAIL 173 INFORMATION MANAGEMENT 178 ORDERING THE PAPER EMPIRE 185 THE KNOWLEDGE OF EMPIRE 190 Chapter 7 Methods: the government of empire 198 THE MAKING OF AN IMPERIAL BUREAUCRACY 199 PRINCIPLES AND POLICY 210 COMMAND, CONTROL, AND REFORM 221 Chapter 8 Methods: the management of trade 235 REVENUE, BULLION, AND THE SWING TO CHINA 238 IMPORTS: SALES AND RETURNS 250 EXPORTS: ENTERPRISE AND INNOVATION 262 THE END OF MONOPOLY 268 Chapter 9 Influences: the Company and the British economy 276 EXPANSION, EMPLOYMENT, AND OPPORTUNITY 278 COMPANY EXPENDITURE 291 COMPANY FORTUNES 304 Afterword 312 Index 315

This volume is the first detailed study of what happened in Britain when the East India Company acquired a vast territorial empire in South Asia. Drawing on a mass of hitherto unused material contained in the Company's administrative and financial records, the book offers a reconstruction of the inner workings of the Company as it made the remarkable transition from business to empire during the late-eighteenth century. Huw Bowen profiles the company's stock holders and directors and examines how those in London adapted their methods, working practices, and policies to changing circumstances in India.

"The Business of Empire assesses the domestic impact of British imperial expansion by analysing what happened in Britain following the East India Company's acquisition of a vast territorial empire in South Asia. Drawing on a mass of hitherto unused material contained in the Company's administrative and financial records, the book offers a reconstruction of the inner workings of the Company as it made the remarkable transition from business to empire during the late eighteenth century."--Back cover "The Business of Empire assesses the domestic impact of British imperial expansion by analysing what happened in Britain following the East India Company's acquisition of a vast territorial empire in South Asia. Drawing on a mass of hitherto unused material contained in the Company's administrative and financial records, the book offers a reconstruction of the inner workings of the Company as it made the remarkable transition from business to empire during the late eighteenth century."--Jacket In the half-century after 1756 Britain established a large territorial empire in South Asia, and by the beginning of the nineteenth century many contemporaries considered India to have become the richest jewel in the imperial crown.

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