The CRASH that bankrupted Britain | Everything you wanted to know about the South Sea Bubble

In 1720, would-be speculators were in a frenzy over an irresistible new investment opportunity

Published: February 10, 2026 at 9:01 AM

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In 1720, everyone from bankers and barons to ordinary housewives rushed to buy South Sea Company stock, sold on the idea that this was a get-rich-quick scheme that couldn’t go wrong.

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But, before long, the bubble burst. In this episode of History’s Greatest Scandals, Professor Hannah Greig and Ellie Cawthorne uncover a story of greed, risk and delusion in the world’s first major financial crash.

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Watch the full episode, or listen ad-free at the link below:

Authors

Ellie CawthorneHead of content (audio)

Ellie Cawthorne is head of content (audio) at HistoryExtra

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