Glasgow’s Sugar Aristocracy in the British Atlantic World, 1776 – 1838

by Stephen Mullen

The wealth generated both directly and indirectly by Caribbean slavery had a major impact on the city of Glasgow, and on Scotland as a whole. Glasgow’s Sugar Aristocracy is the first book to directly assess the size, nature, and effects of slavery’s economic impact in Scotland. Many West Indian merchants and plantation owners based in Glasgow made nationally significant fortunes, some of which boosted the Scottish economy, as did the fortunes of the temporary Scottish economic migrants who traveled to some of the wealthiest of the Caribbean islands.

Revealing methods of repatriating wealth from the Caribbean as well as mercantile investments in industry, banking, land, and philanthropic initiatives, Glasgow’s Sugar Aristocracy adds much needed nuance to this subject in a Scottish context.

Genres: History

250 pages, Hardcover

First published April 26, 2021

Reviews

[Janet Roger · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly enlightening work about a fascinating era. Mullen brings to life a city bursting with life and gives us an insight into the enterprise and trade that went along with making a great deal of money for a very select bunch of people.

It's a commendably well-researched piece that doesn’t shy away from the hard facts and repercussions of slavery in all its guises and gets us thinking just how much the actions of that period are still affecting lives today.