Imports and Exports, 1696–1780

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British Mercantile Trade Statistics, 1662–1809

Imports and Exports, 1696–1780

Collection: British Mercantile Trade Statistics, 1662–1809 Volumes Imports and Exports, 1696–1780

Ledger stating the imports of foreign goods into London

This volume contains a series of ledgers (The National Archives, Customs 3) that detail imports and exports from 1696 to 1780. The statistics in this volume were compiled by the Inspector-General of Imports and Exports, a position established by the Board of Customs in 1696 and originally occupied by William Culliford, a former revenue commissioner. In 1703, he was succeeded by the politician and former Commissioner of the Excise, Charles Davenant, who held this position until his death in November 1714. The economist, Henry Martin, was then appointed, serving until his death in 1721. In 1786, Thomas Irving was appointed.

Aside from the years 1705 and 1712, this volume contains detailed ledgers outlining the goods that were imported to Britain from Africa, Asia, the Americas, and the Caribbean. The ledgers likewise list goods that were exported to these destinations. According to the source commentaries that compose volume four of this collection, the ledgers covered the years up until 1791. The registers for these last ten years (1781–1791) were, it seems, destroyed in the fire that broke out at the Customs House in 1814.

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