The tontine and the public sphere: Ireland and Scotland compared, 1772–1850

Abstract

AbstractRecently, there has been a surge of interest in tontines, including their history and potential modern applications. While scholarly work has focussed on how tontines were organised, nominee selection, and the use of raised funds, little attention has been paid to their cultural impact. This article starts to address this gap by comparing tontine development in Ireland and Scotland, where the scheme was more than a revenue-raising tool. In these countries, it contributed to the public sphere through broad public discourse in newspapers and pamphlets and by raising funds for spaces including meeting rooms, coffeehouses, theatres, and hotels. The tontine’s influence in these regions therefore extended beyond the financial.