1851 Letter of Introduction of one Mr. Cormack - World Traveller - from John MacGregor (1797)

A letter in the hand of John MacGregor dated at Hyde Park, London on June 7th 1851. MacGregor writes to seemingly introduce his friend, Mr. Cormack who “has traveled by Sea and Land over a great part of the World; and purports to reach America as far as California” to Samuel Ruggles.

John MacGregor (1797-1857) was born in Scotland but emigrated to Nova Scotia in 1803 at 6 years old and relocated to Prince Edward Island in 1806. He grew to be a business man, high sheriff and local politician there. In 1827 he moved to Liverpool, England, and set himself up as a successful merchant, general commission-agent and author, writing 16 books. MacGregor later decided to become a political economist and commercial expert, specializing in Britain’s American colonies. He became acquainted with James Deacon Hume and other political economists and began a lengthy writing career which resulted in the publication of more than 30 titles, many of them multi-volume works. In 1832 he began a major study of international commercial statistics in collaboration with James Deacon Hume; by 1833 he was residing in London and over the next few years travelled extensively on the continent, often in the employ of the Foreign Office, and negotiated a series of commercial treaties on behalf of Great Britain. Elected in July 1847, he represented Glasgow until shortly before his death in 1857. Although MacGregor had a chequered career, few political figures in early Victorian Britain had his first-hand knowledge of British North America. As a publicist and civil servant, he helped to shape economic policy in the transitional years from protectionism to free trade.

This manuscript letter measures 4-½ x 7-⅛ inches. An old paper clip impression exists at the top, and the page was folded. Age-toned and in Good condition.