The Merchant Company | The City of Edinburgh

	MEMBERSHIP

	COMMITTEES

	HONORARY MEMBERS

	COMPANY ORDERS & ACTS

The Merchant Company’s original purpose was to protect trading rights in the City of Edinburgh. Rules were drawn up for better regulation of trade and for punishing offenders. Then, as now, the term merchant covered a wide field but all Members, including a few women, shared common interests and purpose. Issues discussed included the city’s water supply, smuggling, taxation, Sabbath observance and postal services. From its earliest days, the Merchant Company was involved in educational and charitable work. As a result, when the monopolies of trade guilds were ended by the Trading Within Burghs Act 1849, the Merchant Company continued to flourish and play an important role in the life in the city.

Below is an organisational chart which displays the functionality of the Company today -

	Master Dr Christopher Masters CBE

	Treasurer Mr Kennedy Dalton

Secretary & Chamberlain Mr Alistair N W Beattie	Master's Court

Membership Committee Chairman: Mr Ian Bell		Charity Committee Chairman: Mr Gordon Banks

Education, Liaison & Enterprise Committee Chairman: Mr Alasdair Seale		Property Committee Chairman: Mr Robert Melville

Archive & Treasures Committee Chairman: Mr Vernon M Williamson

Flourishing Membership Of Businessmen And Women

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