Scottish Agency Houses in South-East Asia, c.1760–c.1813

Abstract

This chapter probes the activities of privileged Scots engrossed in the business life of India, South-East Asia and China in the 1760–1813 era. It explains the Scottish contribution to the development of Houses of Agency and the overarching prominence they achieved through using them. The role of agencies in the expansion of shipping, shipbuilding, insurance and investment throughout the East is demonstrated, as well as development of the coastal trade of India, the East Indies Archipelago and routes to China. The business concerns of David Scott of Dunninald MP (1746–1805) are used for illustration. His agencies, network, links with Asian merchants and with other Scots businessmen abroad bring into focus the goals and considerable achievements of the Scottish group.

The author is very appreciative of two Small Research Grants: one from Carnegie, the other from Strathmartine that partly funded the research needed for this paper.