Overview

This book explores the nineteenth century roots of globalisation through the activities of the enterprise network created by the Scottish merchant, William Mackinnon. It follows the rise of the family-led business group from its modest origins in Scotland to its transformation into the world's largest maritime and mercantile conglomerate, tracingthe history of the various shipping firms within the group - including the British India, Netherlands India and Australasian United companies - and identifies the key factors behind its domination of coastal steamshipping around the Indian Ocean and into the western Pacific. It provides an analysis of the anatomy and dynamics of the enterprise network over time. The book also examines Mackinnon's relationship with the imperial statesman, Sir Henry Bartle Frere, which drew the network into the operations of British 'informal imperialism' in the Persian Gulf, Red Sea and East-Central Africa regions, and eventually to its sponsorship of the ill-fated Imperial British East Africa Company. It breaks new ground in identifying the interplay of personal and business considerations behind Mackinnon's participation in the 'Scramble for Africa' in its combination of maritime history with business history and imperial history to contribute to the current debate over 'gentlemanly capitalism' and British overseas expansion. WINNER OF THE 2004 WADSWORTH PRIZE. JOINT WINNER OF THE 2004 SALTIRE SOCIETY RESEARCH BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD. J. FORBES MUNRO is emeritus professor of international economic history, University of Glasgow.

Full Product Details

Author:   J. Forbes Munro
Publisher:   Boydell & Brewer Ltd
Imprint:   The Boydell Press
Dimensions:   Width: 15.60cm , Height: 3.50cm , Length: 23.40cm
Weight:   0.964kg
ISBN:  

9780851159355

ISBN 10:   0851159354
Pages:   536
Publication Date:   30 April 2003
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Out of stock  
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Table of Contents

East India Merchants: Clyde to Calcutta, 1823-1862 The British India Steam Navigation Company, 1856-1870 Extending the System: Australia, Indonesia and Arabian Waters, 1862-1870 Business Networking, 1860-1870 The Suez Canal, India and the Netherlands Indies, 1869-1882 The Persian Gulf, the Zanzibar Mail Contracts, and the London-Gulf Line, 1869-1882 Eastern Africa, 1872-1882 'Aristocratic Capitalism', Railways and the Central African Project, 1876-1882 Family, Group and Network, 1870-1882 The Failure of the City of Glasgow Bank, 1878-1882 The Australian Opening, 1880-1893 India: Competition, Collaboration and Consolidation, 1882-1893 Indonesia: Nationalism in Dutch Colonial Policy, 1882-1890 Imperial Politics: Egypt and the Scramble for Africa, 1882-1886 Interludes: a Scottish Election, an African Expedition and a Persian Railway, 1885-1887 A False Dawn: East Africa and the Western Indian Ocean, 1888-1890 The Fall of the Imperial British East Africa Company, 1890-1893 Maritime Enterprise and Empire

Reviews

A richly textured analysis of Sir William Mackinnon's Indian Ocean-based business network. (...) Not only essential reading for scholars interested in nineteenth-century maritime history, it is also indispensable for students of business history. THE NORTHERN MARINER Massive and definitive. Gives character and insight into...the character and operation of nineteenth-century international business and politics. INTERNATIONAL HISTORY REVIEW This book is a joy to read and represents economic history at its best.. (An) excellent book. EH.NET A superb book that will be the standard on Mackinnon for decades to come. CHOICE The book is not only well-researched but written in an easy style which makes its romp through almost a century a pleasure to undertake. BUSINESS HISTORY A first rate study of the business career of one of Scotland's leading Victorian entrepreneurs. ALBION

A richly textured analysis of Sir William Mackinnon's Indian Ocean-based business network. (...) Not only essential reading for scholars interested in nineteenth-century maritime history, it is also indispensable for students of business history. THE NORTHERN MARINERMassive and definitive. Gives character and insight into...the character and operation of nineteenth-century international business and politics. INTERNATIONAL HISTORY REVIEW This book is a joy to read and represents economic history at its best. (An) excellent book. EH.NET A superb book that will be the standard on Mackinnon for decades to come. CHOICE The book is not only well-researched but written in an easy style which makes its romp through almost a century a pleasure to undertake. BUSINESS HISTORY A first rate study of the business career of one of Scotland's leading Victorian entrepreneurs. ALBION

Author Information

J. FORBES MUNRO is emeritus professor of international economic history, University of Glasgow.

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