This book provides a fascinating insight into the history of the Gresham family, one of England's most important merchant dynasties. Drawing on a wide range of sources, the author charts the family's fortunes from its origins in the Middle Ages to the present day, exploring the economic, social, and political context of their lives. Along the way, he also sheds light on some of the family's most famous members, including Sir Thomas Gresham, the founder of the Royal Exchange in London. A must-read for anyone interested in the history of English trade and commerce, or the Gresham family specifically. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.