Surveying the transatlantic tobacco trade of the 18th century, this study examines the growth of merchant families in Glasgow, their successful trading methods and their eventual demise. It contains an analysis of the effect the American War of Independence had on Scottish transatlantic trade.
Part 1 The nature of the Glasgow merchant community: the tobacco
merchants of Glasgow; merchant investments - land; merchant investments -
industry. Part 2 Trading methods and organization in the Glasgow tobacco
trade: the organization of the Glasgow tobacco trade c 1740-90; the emergence
of the tobacco companies; the tobacco farm in Virginia, William Cunninghame
and Company, 1768-75; sources of capital for the Glasgow tobacco trade. Part
3 Glasgow tobacco merchants and the American war of independence: merchant
reaction to the American war; the opportunities of trade during the American
war; the difficulties of trade during the American war. Part 4 The aftermath
of the American war of independence: the problem of Glasgow's pre-war debts;
the renewal of trade with North America after 1783.
