A Scottish Firm in Virginia (1767–1777) by T.M. Devine

A Scottish Firm in Virginia (1767–1777)

Author: T.M. Devine
Publisher: Scottish History Society
Edition: First Edition, 1984
Pages: 280

A Scottish Firm in Virginia (1767–1777) by renowned historian T.M. Devine offers a deeply researched and engaging look at the intricate networks of commerce, colonial expansion, and transatlantic relationships in the decade leading up to the American Revolution. Drawing from original letters, shipping records, and financial documents, this book focuses on the operations of a Scottish mercantile firm based in Virginia, highlighting the ways in which Scottish entrepreneurs shaped the colonial economy.

Devine meticulously unpacks the daily functions and long-term strategies of this enterprise, shedding light on how Scottish traders handled tobacco exports, managed plantations, and navigated the volatile political and economic terrain of pre-revolutionary America. Through this focused case study, the book also offers broader insights into migration patterns, labor systems, and imperial commerce.

Published by the Scottish History Society, the work reflects rigorous archival scholarship and contributes to both Scottish and American historical narratives. It emphasizes the reach and impact of Scottish commercial ambition during a period of rising global interdependence and colonial friction. The author’s sharp analysis and attention to detail make this book essential reading for students and scholars of 18th-century economic history, colonial studies, and the global Scottish diaspora.

Devine’s authoritative style combines economic data with human stories, giving voice to the traders, clerks, and laborers whose lives were bound up in the transatlantic mercantile world. This volume not only documents a vital aspect of British-American trade but also reveals the socio-cultural links between two very different regions during a formative historical moment.

• Focuses on the role of a Scottish trading firm operating in Virginia between 1767–1777.

• Explores themes of transatlantic trade, colonial commerce, and imperial economics.

• Offers rare insights into the Scottish mercantile community’s influence on American colonies.

• Draws from original letters, business records, and correspondence.

• A scholarly publication of the Scottish History Society, known for academic excellence.

• Provides historical context for pre-revolutionary America and Scottish migration.

• Written by T.M. Devine, one of Scotland’s foremost historians.

• Valuable for researchers in British-American history, economic history, and diaspora studies.