John Barnard and trading elite of the city of London in the political and financial life of Great Britain in 1730-1760's

The author analyzes the attempt to gain the political positions of British trade monopolists, planters and financiers in the middle of the XVIII century. The article contains a review of the different evaluations of the role of big business in the process of political decision-making in United Kingdom. The author pays special attention to the connections between the political objectives of the trade-financial elite and the economic situation in the period of increased competition in international seaborne trade.