Board of Trade

The Board of Trade is a committee of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom. It was originally a committee of inquiry in the 17th century, which continued to develop over time in a government department with a wide range of tasks. Since 1970 it is called the Department of Trade and Industry and is headed by the Minister of Trade and Industry, who is the President of the Board of Trade at the same time. Since the mid-19th century, the Board of Trade is occurring only once complete, during the commemoration of its 200th anniversary in 1986.

In 1621 King James I ordered the Privy Council to set up a temporary committee to find out the causes of a decline in trade and the resulting financial problems of the state treasury. To date, the official name of the Boards The Lords of the Committee of Privy Council appointed for the consideration of all matters Relating to Trade and Foreign Plantations ( The Lords of the Committee of the Privy Council, who are appointed to all matters relating to trade and to investigate foreign colonies).

In 1696 appointed King William III. eight paid commissioners to promote trade in the American plantations and elsewhere. The Board continued this work, but there were long periods of inactivity. After 1761 the work of the board was sometimes chaotic. 1782 it was resolved by the Rockingham Whigs temporarily.

William Pitt founded the Committee in 1784 new, and a Cabinet Order ( Order-in -Council ) provided the formal basis, which remained in force until today. It was created a Secretariat, which consists of the President, the Vice President and the members of the board. After 1820 ended the regular meetings, and the shops were henceforth conducted entirely by the Secretariat.

In the 19th century, the Board had an advisory role regarding the economic activities in the United Kingdom and the British Empire. During the second half of the 19th century, it also dealt with the legislation for patents, product patents and trademarks, corporate governance, labor and factories, commercial shipping, agriculture, transport and energy supply, etc. colonial matters were submitted to the Colonial Office, and other functions has been changed to founded in government departments passed. This process continued throughout the 20th century.