ABSTRACT
An important general commercial text of the eighteenth century was Youth’s introduction to trade and business by Martin Clare, published in eight editions between 1720 and 1758. Reprinted from the eighth edition is the original preface, laying out the author’s case for a broad education for merchants. Clare was able to carry out his ideas in practice, as from 1717 or 18 until his death in 1751 he was master of the Academy in Soho Square, London. Besides writing on business subjects, Martin Clare published in 1735 a major text on the motion of fluids. The following year he became a fellow of the Royal Society, but declined to use the “F.R.S.” title publicly due to objection that he had sought it for personal and professional prestige. Many graduates proceeded directly to higher education, while boys sometimes took only a brief course preparatory to entering one of the elite “Public Schools.”.
