Women's East India Company

In my personal experience, the allure of new research or a fresh project always manages to overshadow the task I should be completing. The excitement that comes with the scent of a new endeavor is hard to beat. The point of departure for my PhD dissertation was understanding how the networks of trading company officials influenced the formation of the English political economy. I was a part of a broader project that examined various aspects of trading company development, with my specific task being the examination of directors. To reconstruct these intricate networks, I dedicated countless hours to poring over minute books within the India Office Records at the British Library. These records meticulously detailed interactions between company officials themselves, their employees, and their constituents. Among these interactions, a notable presence emerged – that of women, each with her distinct set of agendas. Gradually, my thoughts began to shift from my PhD research to the realm of a new project: women’s roles in the East India trade.