| Summary |
The economy of Britain and its industrial spirit from 1870 to the present has been referred to by many economists and economic historians as suffering from a 'British Disease', a period of slowed economic growth and modest entrepreneurial achievements. Some historians have blamed the entrepreneurial spirit of Britains themselves and claimed that British society has been anti-business and anti-urban. While some of this societal influence has merit, this thesis maintains that entrepreneurial spirit which must be manifest in the being of the individual was not lacking during this period, and in fact thrived. Although Britains never achieved the comparable financial success of many Americans such as Rockefeller or Morgan, their achievements were at least as remarkable if not superior in many regards. Since entrepreneurial spirit and success is a difficult subject to quantify, comparative biography had been used as the method of approach. Five Britains from this period have been showcased based on various criteria. The chosen five have all achieved the pinnacle of British financial success in their times, have come from modest to meager backgrounds and support, and have forged their own entrepreneurial path to success. Although only five were chosen, volumes and volumes could be written on others who have achieved similar success to a lesser degree. The five that were showcased include Richard Branson, who currently controls a Virgin empire worth more than $3.3 billion; William Hesketh Lever, 1st Viscount Leverhulme, who dominated the soap industry in Britain and much of the world; Sir John Ellerman, shipping magnate and financier who was the richest Britain in history up until that point in time; William Richard Morris, Viscount Nuffield, who is considered the Henry Ford of the motor vehicle industry in Britain; and the mysterious Barclay twins who own luxury hotels and a conglomeration of other business interests throughout the world. All five are discussed within the scope of Britain's entrepreneurial past, present and future. |
