The book examines the careers of six men from three generations of the Earle family, all merchants in Liverpool. These are John Earle of Warrington (1674-1749) who came to Liverpool as an apprentice in 1688, his three sons, Ralph (1715-90), Thomas (1719-81) and William (1721-88) who flourished in different branches of overseas trade, such as that with Italy, Russia and the West Indies, the slave trade, and the shipment of cured fish from Newfoundland and the Shetlands. The third generation are represented by another Thomas (1754-1822) and another William (1760-1835), the two sons of William se ... More

The book examines the careers of six men from three generations of the Earle family, all merchants in Liverpool. These are John Earle of Warrington (1674-1749) who came to Liverpool as an apprentice in 1688, his three sons, Ralph (1715-90), Thomas (1719-81) and William (1721-88) who flourished in different branches of overseas trade, such as that with Italy, Russia and the West Indies, the slave trade, and the shipment of cured fish from Newfoundland and the Shetlands. The third generation are represented by another Thomas (1754-1822) and another William (1760-1835), the two sons of William senior. Overall, the book provides an original account of Liverpool’s economic history in the 18th and early 19th century as well as a portrait of the key members of one of the port’s most important mercantile families. Not very much personal or social material has survived but, where this exists, it has been used to provide biographical background to the careers of the merchants.