Whatever the original motivations behind British expansion and colonialism in the Atlantic, there is no doubt that the character of this empire was ‘commercial’. Furthermore, during the eighteenth century the ‘cult of commerce became an increasingly important part of being British’, enhancing the role and reputation of merchants as a group. If we think in terms of informal maritime empire, one based on the economy rather than sovereignty or dominion, there is no doubt that the British Empire was the most successful at this point in time. Even after Independence the United States continued to be Britain's largest single trading partner. This success was largely due to a business culture which facilitated trade despite long-term structural changes and short-term crises. As Malachy Postlethwayt opined in the quote above, commerce had made Britain rich and powerful, and its merchants had facilitated this. Using socio-economic theory has provided a nuanced understanding of how these merchants conceived of, and dealt with, their complex and interdependent commercial relationships. Moreover, applying that theory to the business records and actions of those men has shown how those attitudes shaped the reality of their everyday decisions and experiences. This is important because it highlights their sophisticated understanding and management of their businesses. There is no doubt that these merchants wanted to make as much money as possible, but they were not pure ‘economic men’.