List of committee members of the African Company of Merchants facts for kids
The African Company of Merchants was a trading company in Britain. It was managed by a group called the African Committee. This committee had nine members. Three members came from London, three from Liverpool, and three from Bristol.
The rules said that these committee members should be chosen every year. They were elected from traders in these cities who paid 40 shillings to join the company.
The law that created the company, called the African Company Act 1750, stated that committee members could not serve for more than three years. However, between 1750 and 1764, only 14 different people served on the committee. This shows that the same people often rotated in and out of the committee.
Who Was on the Committee?
The African Committee saw different members elected over the years. These members were important traders from the main port cities of Britain.
Early Members
- In 1755, Samuel Poirier was a member.
- In 1757 and 1758, Samuel Touchet served on the committee.
Members in the Late 1750s
On July 15, 1758, new members were elected:
- From London: Rongat Lehook, Robert Scott, Henry Douglas.
- From Bristol: Samuel Smith, Vincent Briscoe, Pere Cuft.
- From Liverpool: Richard Gildart, Nathaniel Basnett, and Charles Pole. Charles Pole was also a Member of Parliament (MP).
Later Members
- In 1770 and 1771, Richard Camplin was a committee member.
- In 1772 and 1773, the election took place on July 3, 1772. John Bourke, Gilbert Ross, and James Bogle French were elected from London.
- John Bourke continued to serve in 1773 and 1774, and again in 1774 and 1775.
- In 1777 and 1778, John Bourke and John Barnes were on the committee.
- John Bourke served again in 1778 and 1779.
- John Shoolbred (1740-1802) also served on the committee at some point, though the exact dates are not known.
