British East India Company (EIC)
Founded in 1600, the British East India Company grew from a trading company to a military and political power in its own right. By the early 1800s, the company controlled large areas of India and had more troops and ships than the British Army and Navy. Nearly 15% of Britain’s GDP was a result of the EIC’s activities. The company ceased operations in 1874.
Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC)
The Hudson’s Bay Company was a fur trading company that at one point controlled an area of over 7 million square kilometers of North America. In 1870, the company’s land was transferred to the Dominion of Canada in exchange for £300,000. The Hudson’s Bay Company continues to exist as a chain of department stores and remains North America’s oldest company.
Dutch East India Company (VOC)
Founded in 1602, the VOC was the largest Dutch trading company and operated for nearly two centuries before folding in 1799. The VOC established colonies in what is today South Africa, India, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia, among many others. It was the first company to issue shares to the general public and served as a prototype for the modern corporation.
Middelburgsche Commercie Compagnie (MCC)
The MCC was the primary Dutch participant in the transatlantic slave trade throughout the 18th century. Ships would sail from Europe to West Africa carrying trade goods, which would be traded for slaves. The slaves were then transported to colonies in the Caribbean and South America, where those who survived the journey were sold. The MCC made 114 such voyages.
Swedish East India Company (SOIC)
Founded in 1731, the Swedish East India Company sailed primarily between Gothenburg in Sweden and the trading city of Canton (now Guangzhou) in southern China, where they traded silver, iron, copper, and timber for goods primarily consisting of tea and ceramics. The company made 131 voyages before folding in 1813.
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