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History of Chambers of Commerce

This research by Professor Robert Bennett aims to give definitive historical analysis of chambers of commerce and other local business associations.

There are chambers of commerce in most countries of the world. They fall into two types: those governed by public law (as in much of continental Europe), and those governed by private law as voluntary organisations. Although the earliest private law chamber was in France at Marseilles, founded in 1599, this was incorporated into the French public law system in 1779.

The modern system of private law chambers began in cities across the Atlantic economy from the 1760s and 1770s. The earliest were in New York, Jersey, Guernsey, Liverpool, Manchester, Charleston, Boston, Jamaica, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Dublin, Belfast, Glasgow and other port cities in the UK and Ireland. Their origin was related to the protests that led to the American Revolution, and arose from anger with: government policies, business taxes, inadequate trade treaties, odious government officials, and other government 'bads' especially the war with America. From this origin private law chambers then diffused to cover most cities, towns and smaller places.

These developments are covered in the following books:

Books

Two books are available:

Local Business Voice

Bennett, R. J. (2011) Local Business Voice: The history of Chambers of Commerce in Britain, Ireland and Revolutionary America, 1760-2011, Oxford University Press. [USA weblink]

Read an extended chapter summary and the index of chambers contained in the book.

Read practitioner reviews at:

Read academic reviews at:

One of the earliest chambers showing the blending of anger with new modes of lobbying government was Liverpool, 1774-1796.

Local Business Voice

Bennett, R. J. (2010) The Voice of Liverpool Business: The first chamber of commerce and the Atlantic economy, 1774-c.1796, Liverpool Chamber of Commerce; 172pp.

Read reviews at:

Chamber of commerce history

A major presentation and seminar podcast based on the 'Local Business Voice book' is available, from a seminar at the British Academy.

A report of the seminar [PDF] is available.

The Chair's remarks (Sir Peter Hall, UCL) are at the beginning (point 0.00), end, and in between each presentation. The presentations run as follows:

  • 2.00 - 25.00 - Bob Bennett (Cambridge University)
  • 27.38 - 40.00 - Martin Daunton (Cambridge University)
  • 42.00 – 51.00 - Wyn Grant (Warwick University)
  • 52.46 – 1.09.00 - Martyn Pellew (President, BCC)
  • 1.12.01 - 1.24.36 - Andrew Lansley MP (Former BCC Deputy Director General) [Transcript of Andrew Lansley's remarks]

A presentation 'Webinar' to US audiences through the US Association of Chamber of Commerce Chief Executives (ACCE) on 7 March 2012 based on 'Local Business Voice':

More about chamber of commerce history:

The modern chamber of commerce: Modern private law chambers are leading voluntary organizations for their localities and often act as partners with government in regional and local economic initiatives. They are democratically elected from the business community, have transparent governance that offers legitimacy, and are locally-rooted. They offer advantages over ad hoc and government-appointed bodies that often carry no weight with businesses and usually cost a lot to maintain.

Read some recent commentary and blogs at:

Using chambers as partners allows governments to draw on networks of traded and un-traded dependencies between businesses, offering business commitment, a means for engagement, and helping dissemination of information. As existing networks chambers are low cost: they have no set-up costs and are self-maintaining. They cover 'natural' areas meshing closely with local geographical clusters. Associations are also usually far more effective than government-led policy interventions with SMEs, contributing to 'hard' bottom-line benefits, as well as 'soft' management skills.

Read more on chamber services to SMEs and public policy.