Panton, Leslie & Company
Encyclopedia
Panton, Leslie & Company was a company of Scottish merchants active in trading in the Bahamas
and with the Indians of what is now the Southeastern United States
during the late 18th century and early 19th century.
Panton, Leslie & Company was a partnership formed by William Panton, John Leslie, Thomas Forbes, Charles McLatchy and William Alexander in 1783 for the purpose of trading with the Indians of Florida
and adjacent territory claimed by Spain. The partners, who were Loyalists
, had been forced out of the United States during the American Revolution
, with their property confiscated. Having established themselves in Florida and the Bahamas
, the company was able to continue operating in Florida after its return to Spain in 1783 because there were no Spanish traders established in the trade with Indians. Panton, Leslie & Company were granted a monopoly on trade with Indians in East Florida
, and eventually also dominated the Indian trade in West Florida
.
For many years Panton, Leslie & Company dominated trade with the Creeks and Seminole
s. They eventually captured much of the trade with the Choctaw
s and Chickasaw
s, and were important in the trade with the Cherokee
s. The partners harbored a great antipathy to the United States, and used their influence with the Indians to advance Spanish territorial claims against the United States, and to encourage the Indians to resist white settlers and United States attempts to acquire land from the tribes.
Panton, Leslie & Company also operated as merchants in the Bahamas, organizing shipping of cotton and other local products, and acting as agents for merchants in Britain
.
After the deaths of William Panton and John Leslie, the company was reorganized in 1804 as John Forbes & Company.
The Bahamas
The Bahamas , officially the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, is a nation consisting of 29 islands, 661 cays, and 2,387 islets . It is located in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cuba and Hispaniola , northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and southeast of the United States...
and with the Indians of what is now the Southeastern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
during the late 18th century and early 19th century.
Panton, Leslie & Company was a partnership formed by William Panton, John Leslie, Thomas Forbes, Charles McLatchy and William Alexander in 1783 for the purpose of trading with the Indians of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and adjacent territory claimed by Spain. The partners, who were Loyalists
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
, had been forced out of the United States during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, with their property confiscated. Having established themselves in Florida and the Bahamas
The Bahamas
The Bahamas , officially the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, is a nation consisting of 29 islands, 661 cays, and 2,387 islets . It is located in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cuba and Hispaniola , northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and southeast of the United States...
, the company was able to continue operating in Florida after its return to Spain in 1783 because there were no Spanish traders established in the trade with Indians. Panton, Leslie & Company were granted a monopoly on trade with Indians in East Florida
East Florida
East Florida was a colony of Great Britain from 1763–1783 and of Spain from 1783–1822. East Florida was established by the British colonial government in 1763; as its name implies it consisted of the eastern part of the region of Florida, with West Florida comprising the western parts. Its capital...
, and eventually also dominated the Indian trade in West Florida
West Florida
West Florida was a region on the north shore of the Gulf of Mexico, which underwent several boundary and sovereignty changes during its history. West Florida was first established in 1763 by the British government; as its name suggests it largely consisted of the western portion of the region...
.
For many years Panton, Leslie & Company dominated trade with the Creeks and Seminole
Seminole
The Seminole are a Native American people originally of Florida, who now reside primarily in that state and Oklahoma. The Seminole nation emerged in a process of ethnogenesis out of groups of Native Americans, most significantly Creeks from what is now Georgia and Alabama, who settled in Florida in...
s. They eventually captured much of the trade with the Choctaw
Choctaw
The Choctaw are a Native American people originally from the Southeastern United States...
s and Chickasaw
Chickasaw
The Chickasaw are Native American people originally from the region that would become the Southeastern United States...
s, and were important in the trade with the Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
s. The partners harbored a great antipathy to the United States, and used their influence with the Indians to advance Spanish territorial claims against the United States, and to encourage the Indians to resist white settlers and United States attempts to acquire land from the tribes.
Panton, Leslie & Company also operated as merchants in the Bahamas, organizing shipping of cotton and other local products, and acting as agents for merchants in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
After the deaths of William Panton and John Leslie, the company was reorganized in 1804 as John Forbes & Company.