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The Running Trade

Douglas, Isle of Man

An island that became Europe's smuggling warehouse.

In the 1700s the Isle of Man had lower taxes than Britain, so huge amounts of brandy, tea and tobacco were landed there legally, then smuggled across to England, Scotland and Ireland. This 'running trade' made the island rich.

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When
1700s
Where
54.1500, -4.4800
Group
Pirates

Visiting

The Manx Museum in Douglas tells the story.

Cover of Blood and Gold by Cale Mills
Read the full story in the book

Blood and Gold

Sixteen true stories of mutiny, mercy, treasure and the gallows from the Golden Age of Piracy: Henry Every, Bartholomew “Black Bart” Roberts, Edward England, Howell Davis, Christopher Moody, Anne Bonny, Mary Read, Charles Vane, Benjamin Hornigold, Blackbeard, Stede Bonnet, Israel Hands, Calico Jack, Edward Low, Captain William Kidd and Samuel “Black Sam” Bellamy. Where the record is uncertain, the book says so.

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