Ireland and Empire, 1692–1770
Charles Ivar McGrath
Empires in Perspective
978 1 85196 896 1: 234x156mm: £60.00/$99.00
978 1 85196 593 9
Historians often view early modern Ireland as a testing ground for subsequent British colonial adventures further afield. McGrath argues against this passive view, suggesting instead that Ireland played an enthusiastic role in the establishment and expansion of the first British Empire. He focuses on two key areas of empire-building: finance and defence.
The Irish Protestant government set up fiscal structures of taxation and public debt which allowed them to fund a large standing army at home and, on occasion, to pay for it overseas. By the early eighteenth century, Ireland had become a permanent barracks for the largest part of Britain’s peace-time army. Moreoever, the funds raised through this financial innovation funded the four main wars Britain was involved in between 1689 and 1793.
Readership
Empire Studies, Irish Studies, Military History, Financial and Economic History
Contents
Part I: Context
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Religion
Chapter 3: Politics
Part II: Manpower
Chapter 4: A Barracks for a Standing Army
Chapter 5: Regiments at Home
Chapter 6: Regiments Abroad
Part III: Finance
Chapter 7: Parliamentary Taxation
Chapter 8: The National Debt
Chapter 9: The Public Creditors
Conclusion