 | This article may be in need of reorganization to comply with Wikipedia's layout guidelines. (July 2018) |
 | |
| Formation | 13th century |
|---|---|
| Type | Not-for-profit |
| Purpose | Helping communities across Greater Bristol to thrive |
| Headquarters | Merchants' Hall, Clifton Down |
| Location | |
Official language | English |
Master | David Freed |
| Website | Society of Merchant Venturers |
The Society of Merchant Venturers is a charitable organisation in the English city of Bristol.
The society can be traced back to a 13th-century guild which was to fund the 15th-century voyage of John Cabot to Canada.[1] In 1552, it gained a monopoly on sea trading from Bristol from its first royal charter. For centuries it had almost been synonymous with the government of Bristol, especially Bristol Harbour. In recent times, the society's activities have centred on charitable agendas.[2]
The society played a part in the development of Bristol, including the building of Clifton Suspension Bridge and the Great Western Railway. It also influenced the development of educational institutions in Greater Bristol, including University of Bristol, University of the West of England, University of Bath, City of Bristol College, Merchants' Academy, Montpelier High School and Wells Cathedral School. [citation needed]
- ^ Ferguson, Niall (2004a). Colossus: The Price of America's Empire. London: Penguin. ISBN 978-1594200137.
- ^ "Who We Are". The Society of Merchant Venturers. 2018. Archived from the original on 8 June 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
The Society of Merchant Venturers may be descended from a guild of Bristol merchants existing in the thirteenth century