The Glasgow Sugar Aristocracy: Scotland and Caribbean Slavery, 1775–1838

The wealth generated both directly and indirectly by Caribbean slavery had a major impact on Glasgow and Scotland. Glasgow's Sugar Aristocracy is the first book to directly assess the size, nature and effects of this. West India merchants and plantation owners based in Glasgow made nationally significant fortunes, some of which boosted Scottish capitalism, as well as the temporary Scottish economic migrants who travelled to some of the wealthiest of the Caribbean islands. This book adds much needed nuance to the argument in a Scottish context; revealing methods of repatriating wealth from the Caribbean as well as mercantile investments in industry, banking and land and philanthropic initiatives.