Sir John Lambert

Sir John Lambert was a French merchant and financier who was ruined as a result of the outbreak of the financial scandal known as the South Sea Bubble.

John Lambert was born in Ile de Ré, France into a family of English origin. Sent to England on education, he settled in London around 1680 and emerged with time as a prosperous merchant and ship-owner.

Initially involved in trade with Spain and vine, in later period Lambert diversified his business interests into finance. He was involved in various financial matters. For example, he served as an exchange contractor, a stock dealer and promoter of London Assurance. During 1700s he was an agent of Antoine Crozat, a French financier and most likely of Samuel Bernard. In that period he was also active as the paymaster for the tobacco monopoly which essentially meant that he paid for the purchases made by others. His moneylending activities included the highest echelon of society as it is known that he provided a loan to the Queen Anne worth around £400 000.

Because of financial support to Robert Harley, Chancellor of the Exchequer he was rewarded with a baronetcy (1711), and became a director of the South Sea Company. The latter function caused his downfall and an exile to France due to financial scandal known as the South Sea Bubble.