The Board of Agriculture, 1793-1822, with special reference to Sir John Sinclair

Abstract

The Board of Agriculture was a national society in receipt of a Parliamentary grant which existed from 1793 - 1822. It was essentially the creation of a Scottish landowner, Sir John Sinclair. As the manuscript material is so thin,a chronological account is not attempted in this thesis. Instead the influence of Sinclair's ideas on its character and activities is analysed. The introduction describes the state of farming and the climate of agricultural opinion in 1793. This is followed by an attempt to relate the concept of the Board to the furniture of Sinclair's mind, particularly his views on the economic functions of government. An account is then given of the setting up of the Board, its membership and constitution. The next chapter is devoted to Sinclair's legislative intentions as expressed particularly in the General Enclosure Bill, and the response which they received from the landed interest. Their inclination to regard the Board as a potential agent for the removal of grievances is considered.The remainder of the thesis is concerned with Somerville's attempt to reverse this policy and make the Board simply a national agricultural society. His 'System' and the extent to which it was implemented is described. Within this framework some account is given of the Board's correspondence, premiumpolicy, contact with provincial societies and the lectures of Sir Humphrey Davy. In conclusion, an attempt is made to assess the Board's achievement and estimate its contribution to agricultural development in the early nineteenth century.