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British East India Company: English East India Company
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The English East India Company (1600–1874) was one of the longest-lived and richest trading companies. It exercised a pervasive influence on British colonial policy from early in its history because of its wealth and power both in England and in the rest of the commercial world. Nevertheless, not until the era of the American Revolution did the company figure in American affairs. At that time it was expanding its activities in the East, particularly in China, and in order to strengthen its rather precarious foothold at Canton, the company purchased increasing amounts of tea. Soon, with its warehouses overflowing and a financial crisis looming, the company surrendered part of its political power for the exclusive right to export tea directly to America under Lord North's Regulating Act (1773).
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During its best period, the English East India Company, AKA John Company, was the most effective company of its type in the world. It ruled countries and territories much larger than the United Kingdom and created a large number of colonies without having to resort to the brutality of the Dutch, including Singapore that was purchased, rather than seized, from the ruler at the time. Singapore is now one of the world's largest ports for shipment of goods world wide.
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John Keay’s The Honourable Company: History of the English East India Company provides a full account, even of the time before the 19th century. He was engaged by the Company to write it, and had unlimited access to its archives.
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English East India Company