Resumen
This article explores the contributions of George Poulett Scrope and the free bankers to monetary reforms in 1833 through their parliamentarian efforts by exploring Hansard recordings. Scrope joined a group of free bankers in the British Parliament to lead a partially successful effort to derail the Whig Government?s monetary reform plan. Many monetary economic historians do not emphasize these efforts and simplify the struggle as a pamphlet battle between the Currency School and the Banking School over the currency principle. Free bankers and Scrope were instrumental in defeating the government?s effort to eliminate any future joint-stock banking formations under the Banking Co-Partnership Act of 1826 and impose a royal chartering process on banks. The Bank Charter Act of 1833 was approved with a declaratory statement that made clear that joint-stock banks of deposit were allowed to operate within the 65 mile exclusion zone of London. These events allowed for a significant increase in joint-stock banking after 1833, which may have helped British economic development.