Businesswomen and financial management: Three eighteenth-century case studies

Abstract

This article considers how three English businesswomen managed the financial aspects of their enterprises in the ‘long’ eighteenth century. The discussion focuses on two areas: their ability to keep adequate records and their management of trade credit. Whereas earlier studies of women's credit transactions have argued for its specifically ‘feminine’ nature, it will be demonstrated that men and women conducted business credit dealings on gender neutral lines. Three case studies are presented to show that the success or failure of a woman's business depended on her commercial competence, not her gender.

Keywords:

• Businesswomen
• eighteenth century
• credit
• Eleanor Coade
• Boulton & Watt

Acknowledgements

This article draws on material included in my unpublished PhD thesis, prepared with the assistance of studentship no. R00429634128 from the Economic and Social Research Council whose support is greatly appreciated. I would also like to thank archival staff at the Bank of England and Birmingham City Archives, and colleagues in the Department of History, University of Warwick, the Women's Committee of the Economic History Society and the Institute of Historical Research for their comments and advice in numerous seminars and meetings. The comments of anonymous referees are also acknowledged with thanks.