The Colony That Bankrupted Scotland

In 1696 about thirteen hundred Scots pledged 400,000 pounds to the Company of Scotland, and two expeditions sailed to Darien, on the Caribbean coast of Panama, to found a trading colony called New Caledonia. Both failed, and about two thousand people died. Eleven years later, Article 15 of the Treaty of Union repaid the shareholders their cash with interest. This video follows the money, the two expeditions and the treaty to ask whether Darien pushed Scotland into the Union of 1707. CHAPTERS 0:00 30 November 1699: the second fleet arrives 2:23 1695: A king, an Act and a promoter 5:16 1696 to 1698: The subscription book 9:13 1698 to 1699: New Caledonia 13:59 1699 to 1700: The second colony 17:26 1700 to 1707: The bill 21:11 The evidence 27:30 How Darien is remembered 29:49 Caledonia Bay SOURCES Primary sources Act for a Company Trading to Africa and the Indies, 26 June 1695, Records of the Parliaments of Scotland, 1695/5/104 A perfect list of the several persons residenters in Scotland, who have subscribed as adventurers in the joynt-stock of the Company of Scotland (Edinburgh, 1696). Company of Scotland records, Darien Papers, National Library of Scotland, and NatWest Group Archives. Cargo ledger note NatWest Group Archives, Lists of subscribers to the Company of Scotland, 1696 to 1700 Company of Scotland papers, MS 63