David Gagie

Thesis

English Baltic & Levantine Merchant Commercial Practices and Culture between 1680-1730

Supervisor: Natasha Glaisyer

Research

My research will focus on a comparative study of the commercial practices and working culture of independent British eighteenth-century merchants who traded in commodities and manufactured goods to and from the Baltic and the Levant. Through a detailed merchant-centric examination of their accounting records and letters, the research will assess the distinct commercial practices of these merchants which, together with beliefs, principles and decision making, comprised their working culture. It will also evaluate how these factors facilitated gathering information, assessing market opportunities, evaluating and mitigating commercial risks, taking commercial decisions, building trust, meeting obligations, managing business transactions, and measuring success. All these elements being crucial in developing a granular understanding of how these merchants practiced their trade.