THE FOUNDING OF THE GLASGOW CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, 1783

G lasgow claims the distinction of being the first city in the United Kingdom to have established a Chamber of Commerce. Its first meeting was held on 1st January 1783. Important as this event was, it would be wrong to imagine that it marked an entirely new departure, for before this merchants and manufacturers frequently held meetings to discuss matters of common interest. Professor Redford has shown¹ that the founding in 1794 of the Manchester Commercial Society was preceded by that of various other organisations whose purpose was sometimes to represent the interests of the local business community.