James Carnegy and the ‘Country Trade’ in Penang, c.1802–1824

Abstract:James Carnegy was an influential merchant and public figure in early 19th century Penang. His life and career have been largely overlooked, and much new information is presented here. The illegitimate son of a minor Scottish landowner, Carnegy had a short career in Britain’s Royal Navy, and then in the 1780s became a successful private trader in India. He moved to Penang around 1802 as a trader and shipowner. This article traces voyages of his vessels, as well as his extensive financial dealings and his interactions with the British East India Company (EIC) authorities in Penang. Carnegy’s success grew out of his earlier trading activities, professional contacts with other private traders, and positive interactions with EIC officials and local residents. The article shows in some detail the activities of a merchant in early nineteenth-century Penang.