Projector (business) facts for kids
A projector is a person who comes up with and promotes a new idea or plan. This plan usually aims to help the public in some way, but also to make money for the person or company behind it.
Projectors in Early England
The idea of a "projector" became common in England during the time of Elizabeth I, who was queen from 1558 to 1603. Before this, government efforts to boost local production were already called "projects."
When prices went up and many people lost their jobs early in Elizabeth I's reign, the government looked for solutions. They wanted to grow local manufacturing. This is when the role of the projector became important.
The government would give special permits, called "chartered patents," for new projects. These patents gave projectors special rights, like being the only ones allowed to make a certain product. This helped them play a big part in growing the economy.
The Age of New Projects
After a major change in government in 1688, known as the Glorious Revolution, the way the country was run changed a lot. New financial systems were created, including the first widely used credit money in Europe. This period became known as the "Age of Projectors."
In 1693, a famous writer named Daniel Defoe wrote a book called An Essay Upon Projects. In it, he said he was living in a "Projecting Age." Many of the ideas at this time combined plans for military success with ways to expand trade and business.
