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William Beckford
First Prime Minister of the London Empire
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Perry Gauci
Language:
English
Published/Copyright:
2013
About this book
This first-ever biography of William Beckford provides a unique look at eighteenth-century British history from the perspective of the colonies. Even in his own time, Beckford was seen as a metaphor for the dramatic changes occurring during this era. He was born in 1709 into a family of wealthy sugar planters living in Jamaica, when the colonies were still peripheral to Britain. By the time he died in 1770, the colonies loomed large and were considered the source of Britain’s growing global power.
Beckford grew his fortune in Jamaica, but he spent most of his adult life in London, where he was elected Lord Mayor twice. He was one of the few politicians to have experienced imperial growing pains on both sides of the Atlantic, and his life offers a riveting look at how the expanding empire challenged existing political, social, and cultural norms.
Author / Editor information
Perry Gauci is a fellow and tutor in history at Lincoln College, University of Oxford. His most recent book is Regulating the British Economy, 1660–1850. He lives in Oxford.
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Frontmatter
i -
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Contents
vii -
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Preface
ix -
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Map
xii -
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Introduction
1 -
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CHAPTER ONE. The Torrid Zone
10 -
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CHAPTER TWO. Transatlantic Man
30 -
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CHAPTER THREE. Fitting In
51 -
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CHAPTER FOUR. Empire and Patriotism
77 -
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CHAPTER FIVE. The Friend of Liberty
107 -
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CHAPTER SIX. The Cultural Chameleon
137 -
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CHAPTER SEVEN. Apotheosis
164 -
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CODA. Reputations
195 -
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Appendix 1: The Alderman’s Immediate Family
208 -
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Appendix 2: The London Beckfords
209 -
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Notes
211 -
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Bibliography of Manuscript Sources
275 -
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Index
281
Publishing information
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook published on:
May 21, 2013
eBook ISBN:
9780300195163
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
Main content:
304
