Soldiers, Smugglers and the English State, 1700-1830

Hear from Joseph Cozens as he discusses the battle for law and order between the British Army and the smuggling gangs of the 18th century.

The smuggling gangs of 18th-century England were organised, determined and dangerous. By shipping uncustomed brandy, wine, tea and tobacco across the British tax border, and by moving goods inland under armed escorts, smugglers simultaneously undermined the government’s fiscal regime and disturbed the ‘King’s Peace’.

English statesmen came to view smuggling as a deeply concerning form of organised crime and sought to develop a strategy for its suppression.

Soldiers were critically important for guarding the coast, protecting revenue officers and disrupting smuggling networks. However, troops were often too thinly spread to offer a permanent solution.

In this intriguing talk, Joseph Cozens will examine the state’s response to the challenge of smuggling. He will highlight the increasingly significant role played by British Army regiments in acting as both a deterrent and a policing force against smuggling gangs.

About the speaker

Joseph Cozens

Joseph Cozens is a historian, lecturer and researcher. He works on the social history of Britain in the ‘long’ 18th century, focusing on protest, law enforcement and state violence. He is currently writing his first book, provisionally titled ‘Crowd Control: Smugglers, Protesters and the English State, 1700-1850’.