Sir George Colebrooke, 2nd Baronet, of Gatton in Surrey, was an English merchant banker, Member of Parliament for Arundel from 1754-1774 and chairman of the East India Company from 1767-1772. He was conspicuous by his wealth and ostentation, and the ambitious and speculative nature of his financial activities. Colebrooke was known as a stockjobber and a Nabob with close ties to Robert Clive and Alexander Fordyce. Colebrooke bankrupted himself through unwise speculations in the crisis of 1772.
The present times, or the nabobs Clive and Colebroke brought to account
Arnos Grove house in 1816
Gatton House in Gatton Park
Engraving of East India House, Leadenhall Street (1766)
Alexander Fordyce was an eminent Scottish banker, centrally involved in the bank run on Neale, James, Fordyce and Down which led to the credit crisis of 1772. He fled abroad and was declared bankrupt, but in time he used the profits from other investments to cover the losses.
Print of Alexander Fordyce, dressed as the Macaroni Gambler with puns on Fordyce's last name (Four-Dice).
Balcarres mansion in the trees – geograph.org.uk – 1465362
Dividend Day at the Bank of England, 1770
The Amsterdam Stock Exchange by P. Fouquet (1729–1800)
