William Jacob

Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom

1761 (age 90)

In his later life he was a significant and effective advocate for the repeal of the Corn Laws. The early life of William Jacob is not known, though he seems to have received a good education, and a strong interest in statistics. He may have been from an emigre Jewish family. In the 1790s through to 1810 the firm of John and William Jacob traded from London variously as linen merchants and "warehousemen". During 1806-1807 Britain temporarily invaded the region of Rio de Plata, disrupting the Spanish control of its American colonies. At this time William Jacob was a key influencer in advocating Britain"s attempt at invasion and overthrow of the weak Spanish control over its American empire. In encouraging this undertaking William Jacob introduced the Parliamentary Acting that reduced the monopoly of the South Sea Company. In anticipation of changes in South America the firm of J&West Jacob, of Newgate Street, London embarked upon an ambitious trade. In 1807 they sought investors for an expedition to the South Seas to trade contraband fabrics with the closed colonies of Spain"s American empire. The Jacobs obtained sufficient investment for three ships to proceed to the Pacific coast, the ship"s being the Hero, Pandour, and Memphis. While each of the ships were commissioned with letter of marque their primary role was to trade British fabrics for silver, gold or copper ingots. William Jacob outlived a son, the barrister and legal writer Edward Jacob (1795/6–1841), and died in December 1851. An obituary in The Gentleman"s Magazine gave his age as 89.

William Jacob

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Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom

Background

In February 1791 he married Martha Stuckey, daughter of the wealthy banking patriarch Samuel Stuckey of Langport, Somerset.

Career

In his later life he was a significant and effective advocate for the repeal of the Corn Laws. The early life of William Jacob is not known, though he seems to have received a good education, and a strong interest in statistics. He may have been from an emigre Jewish family.

In the 1790s through to 1810 the firm of John and William Jacob traded from London variously as linen merchants and "warehousemen".

During 1806-1807 Britain temporarily invaded the region of Rio de Plata, disrupting the Spanish control of its American colonies. At this time William Jacob was a key influencer in advocating Britain"s attempt at invasion and overthrow of the weak Spanish control over its American empire.

In encouraging this undertaking William Jacob introduced the Parliamentary Acting that reduced the monopoly of the South Sea Company. In anticipation of changes in South America the firm of J&West Jacob, of Newgate Street, London embarked upon an ambitious trade.

In 1807 they sought investors for an expedition to the South Seas to trade contraband fabrics with the closed colonies of Spain"s American empire.

The Jacobs obtained sufficient investment for three ships to proceed to the Pacific coast, the ship"s being the Hero, Pandour, and Memphis. While each of the ships were commissioned with letter of marque their primary role was to trade British fabrics for silver, gold or copper ingots. William Jacob outlived a son, the barrister and legal writer Edward Jacob (1795/6–1841), and died in December 1851.

An obituary in The Gentleman"s Magazine gave his age as 89.

Membership

Royal Society; 3rd United Kingdom Parliament. 4th United Kingdom Parliament]

In 1806 William Jacob was elected to the House of Commons as a Tory Member of Parliament (Member of Parliament) for Westbury, with a subsequent election to Rye for the period 1808-1811.

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William Jacob

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Fellow of the Royal Society