TY - JOUR TI - “To Dispose of Wealth in Works of Charity”: Entrepreneurship and Philanthropy in Medieval England AU - Casson, Catherine AU - Casson, Mark T2 - Business History Review AB - While entrepreneurs are increasingly recognized as important participants in the medieval economy, their philanthropic activities have received less attention than those of the gentry and nobility. This article identifies the contribution that the study of medieval entrepreneurs can make to broader business history debates surrounding the identity of philanthropists and their beneficiaries, the types of causes they supported, and their impact on wider society. Philanthropic entrepreneurs used the profits of commerce to provide infrastructure, health care, and education to their local communities. Their patterns of philanthropy differed from those of gentry, lawyers, and administrators. Support for municipal infrastructure emerges as a distinctive feature of entrepreneurial philanthropy, reflecting a belief in the importance of trade networks and civic reputation. DA - 2019/// PY - 2019 DO - 10.1017/S0007680519000874 DP - Cambridge University Press VL - 93 IS - 3 SP - 473 EP - 502 LA - en SN - 0007-6805, 2044-768X ST - “To Dispose of Wealth in Works of Charity” UR - https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/business-history-review/article/to-dispose-of-wealth-in-works-of-charity-entrepreneurship-and-philanthropy-in-medieval-england/C936ACC991EA92C5F9E483FC3196437E Y2 - 2021/06/24/14:24:51 KW - Business History and gender KW - charity KW - entrepreneur KW - medieval KW - merchant KW - philanthropy KW - welfare ER -