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Economist

Thomas Gresham

E - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics

Sir Thomas Gresham (about 1519 to 1579) was a wealthy sixteenth century English financier, merchant and statesman, and the principal economic advisor to Queen Elizabeth I. Around 1551 he was appointed royal agent in Antwerp, managing the English royal debt in European money markets for sixteen years, and he stressed the importance of stable coinage for export competitiveness. He is best remembered for the dictum that bad money drives out good, later known as Gresham's law, although there is no evidence that he made the observation himself. Knighted in 1559, he advised the Queen to recall and remint the debased silver coinage of England at the old standard.

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Source History of Economic Thought Website: Thomas Gresham profile

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Source History of Economic Thought Website: Thomas Gresham profile
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Source History of Economic Thought Website: Thomas Gresham profileProfile page
Quote, Profile page
Fabulously wealthy 16th Century English financier, merchant and statesman, principal economic advisor to Queen Elizabeth I of England.
Sources
History of Economic Thought Website: Thomas Gresham profile
History of Economic Thought Website
  • Profile page
    Around 1551, Gresham was appointed royal agent in Antwerp - essentially, manager of the English royal debt in European money markets - a position he would serve for sixteen years.
  • In Group: Monetarist and Monetary Economists, Profile page, coinage
    Gresham stressed the importance of stable coinage for export competitiveness and the management of public debt.
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