The Wealth of Nations

The Wealth of Nations

by

Adam Smith

Royal African Company Character Analysis

The Royal African Company was a joint-stock company that held a company monopoly over trade between Britain and Africa in the late 17th century. It enslaved and trafficked more people to the Americas than any other organization. It was very poorly governed, much like the British East India Company, and it failed shortly after losing its monopoly and opening itself to competition with other slave traders.
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Royal African Company Character Timeline in The Wealth of Nations

The timeline below shows where the character Royal African Company appears in The Wealth of Nations. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Book 5, Chapter 1
Institutions and Good Governance Theme Icon
Mercantilism and Free Trade Theme Icon
...personal stake in their success or substantial resources to invest. Britain’s other regulated company, the Royal African Company , is supposed to maintain forts, but it instead behaves monopolistically and wastes its budget. (full context)
Institutions and Good Governance Theme Icon
Mercantilism and Free Trade Theme Icon
Some companies have exclusive trade privileges, while others have lost theirs—like the Royal African Company , which failed as a result. The Hudson’s Bay Company has succeeded because it has... (full context)