Thomas mann
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Thomas Mun, c.1571-1641.
East India Company official who is perhaps most identified with "the" founder of traditional English Mercantilism.
The grandson of a mint engraver and the son of a mercer, Thomas Mun lost his father early and was brought up his step-father, a wealthy East India trader. After serving an apprenticeship in his step-father's business, Mun carved a career as an overseas merchant in the Levantine trade, traveling overseas for extended periods.
In 1615, Mun was elected as a director of the East India Company. In the early 1620s, Mun took up the defense of the EIC against the restrictions advocated by Milles and Malynes that had recently been taken up by an angry English parliament. Mun's defense was first articulated in a tract published in 1621, and then further elaborated in a presentation before Parliament in 1628, which culminated in his principal mature piece, England's Treasure by Forraign Trade, written c.1630 but only published posthumously by his son John Mun in 1664. Mun summarizes his formula in the famo
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MUN, Thomas (c.1645-92), of Otteridge, Bearsted, Kent.
Family and Education
b. c.1645, o.s. of John Mun of Otteridge by Elizabeth, da. of Walter Harlackenden of Woodchurch. educ. Peterhouse, Camb. adm. 10 Apr. 1661, aged. 16. m. Frances (d.1699), 6s. 2da. suc. fa. 1670.1
Offices Held
Commr. for assessment, Kent 1673-80, Kent, Suss. and Colchester 1689; j.p. Kent 1689-d.2
Biography
Mun was the grandson of the famous political economist, who, after a successful career as a London merchant, bought a small estate in Kent. His father appears to have taken no part in the Civil War, leaving at his death lands worth £500 p.a., including the manor of Snailham, four miles north of Hastings. Unfortunately Mun also inherited responsibility for the debts of his uncle, Thomas Harlackenden, for whom he stood security; his lands were extended as soon as he inherited, and even his profits as captain of a privateer in the third Dutch war could not save Snailham, which had to be sold in 1680. He may have formed two useful connexions, however; the first with Hastings, where a son wa
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Thomas Mun
English economist (1571–1641)
For the politician, see Thomas Mun (MP).
Sir Thomas Mun (; 17 June 1571 – 21 July 1641) was an English writer on economics and is often referred to as the last of the early mercantilists. Most notably, he is known for serving as the director of the East India Company. Due to his strong belief in the state and his prior experience as a merchant, Mun took on a prominent role during the economic depression which began in 1620. To defend the East India Company and to regain England's economic stability, Mun published A Discourse of Trade from England unto the East-Indies.
Through mercantilist principles, Mun created a proposed set of "means to enrich a kingdom" which centred on ensuring that exports exceeded imports. In other words, Mun advocated for achieving a positive balance of trade which would cause England's wealth to steadily increase. Thomas Mun is also widely considered to be a sophisticated thinker and has become a hugely important part of the history of economic theory.
Life and background
Thomas
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