Scottish Trade With Spain in the 1770s: The Progress of Carron Company and the Growth of Spanish Naval Power

Abstract

[Abstract] The establishment of a Royal Naval Dockyard in Ferrol (Spain) favoured en-gagement in international activities and hence the development of useful connectionswith other European cities and towns. This article examines trade links between Scotlandand Spain through the port of Ferrol during the 1770s, with particular emphasis on theBritish press and on Scottish customs accounts. Both data sources were used to addressthree research questions. First, what were the policies and mechanisms of this trade? Sec-ond, how important was this trade in terms of the industrial needs of Spain? Third, did thistrade have any effect on economic development? The findings provide insight into Scottishindustrial history and the relationship between the economy and political spheres duringperiods of war. They also reveal historical narratives that shed light on the supply of weap-onry to Ferrol and the customs administration related to this trade