Organizing Spanish-British mining companies: the case of “La Española”, 1866-1942

Abstract

ABSTRACT During the 19th century, Spain emerged as a major producer of lead, attracting the interest of numerous international companies to the region. In this context, numerous alliances emerged between local and foreign companies, leading to the participation of new investors in the area. This phenomenon propelled the Linares-La Carolina mining district to become the world’s largest producer of lead toward the end of the 19th century. However, the internal dynamics of these companies and the alliances that were formed within them are still little known. This study focuses on the mining company ‘La Española’, allowing a detailed analysis of the Spanish-British alliances that emerged within its structure, from its foundation in 1863 to its closure in 1942. The profiles of the investors who participated are examined. in it and how these alliances were commercially documented. The investigation is based on an exhaustive analysis of the company’s documentation, which ranges from its internal files to various external files. The findings reveal relevant information about the profiles of the investors involved, the relationships between them, and the sophisticated commercial documentation used to consolidate these alliances. This analysis provides a new perspective on business dynamics in the international mining industry and commercial relations between Spain and the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries.