Joshua Gee facts for kids
Joshua Gee (1667–1730) was a British businessman and writer. He focused on how countries could become rich through trade. He is best known for his book, The Trade and Navigation of Great Britain Consider'd. This important book was first published in London in 1729. It became very popular and had over 20 editions printed around the world.
Contents
Early Life of Joshua Gee
Joshua Gee was born in 1667, likely in London, England. His father, John Gee (1635–1704), was a Quaker from Yorkshire. Quakers are a type of Christian group. There isn't much information about where Joshua Gee went to school or what his early education was like.
Joshua Gee: A Successful Merchant
By the age of 27, Joshua Gee became a master of the Grocers' Company in London. This was a powerful group for merchants. He bought his way in, meaning he didn't have to do a long training period. He also became a "freeman" of London. This gave him special rights to do business in the city.
Around 1700, Gee started trading with the American colonies. These were British settlements in North America.
In 1715, Gee and Augustine Washington (who was George Washington's father) started The Principio Company. This company was supported by British iron-makers, merchants, and investors. The Principio Company made pig-iron and bar-iron in the American colonies. They sold this iron in England. By 1723, Gee and his partners owned or controlled over 12,000 acres of land in North America. This land had lots of iron ore, which is used to make iron.
Joshua Gee also helped William Penn. In 1708, Gee and eight other men loaned money to Penn. This loan was secured by Penn's land in the Colony of Pennsylvania. Gee also often gave advice to the Board of Trade and Plantations. This was a government group that managed trade and colonies.
Joshua Gee's Family Life
In 1697, Joshua Gee married Sarah Hart (1673/4–1704). She was the daughter of a tailor. They had five children together: William, Joshua, John, Mary, and Sarah. Sadly, William and Mary died when they were very young.
Two years after Sarah passed away, Gee married Anna Osgood in 1706. Anna was a widow and her father-in-law was a Quaker merchant. Anna had two daughters from her first marriage: Rebecca and Anne. Joshua and Anna then had four more children: Samuel, Elizabeth, Osgood, and Mary.
Joshua Gee died in 1730. He passed away at the baths in Hampstead, England.
Joshua Gee's Writings
Joshua Gee is famous for his ideas about trade and economics. He may have also written two other books. These were An Impartial Enquiry into the Importance and Present State of the Woollen Manufacturers of Great Britain and The Grazier's Advocate. Both of these books were published after he died in 1742.
The British Merchant Journal
The British Merchant was a journal published between 1713 and 1714. Charles King created it to argue against a trade agreement with France. Many people believe Joshua Gee wrote for this journal. In his writings, he talked about a "mercantile system." This idea meant that the government should guide and support England's trade to make the country stronger and richer.
In 1729, Gee published his most famous book, The Trade and Navigation of Great Britain Consider’d. This book looked at British trade throughout history and in different parts of the world. It also discussed problems with trade. For example, one chapter talked about how French fashions were bad for England's economy.
A big part of his book focused on the American colonies. He suggested that England send people like convicts, the poor, and the unemployed to work in the colonies. He also thought that Gibraltar and Port Mahon should be "free ports." This would mean goods could be traded there without many taxes. Gee also wanted the colonies to produce more goods that England usually imported from other countries.
This book was very popular. Between 1729 and 1780, it was published at least 20 times. There were English versions in London, Glasgow, and Dublin. It was also translated into French, Dutch, Spanish, and German. Historians believe the book was so popular because Gee was honest. He explained the trade policies that England was actually using at the time.
