...of which the South Sea Company (actually the full and splendidly rolling name of the enterprise was The Governor and Company of Merchants of Great Britain...Seas and Other Parts of America and for Encouraging Fishery) was merely the most notorious. Its shares were issued at £100 and started 1720 at £128 10s...

...by a charter, authorised by act of Parliament, which incorporated "the Governor and Company of the merchants of Great Britain, trading to the South Seas and other parts of America, and for the encouragement of fishing". The initial assets of the company were twofold. First, it was to have...

...May 1711 when the House of Commons passed a resolution establishing the 'Governor and Company of the merchants of Great Britain, trading to the South Seas and other parts of America and for the encouragement of fishing'. The venture was designed to bring wealth to its investors but unfortunately...