Аннотация

The Role of the Shelikhovs’ Clan in the Formation of Russian-American Company. 1783—1798.: Explores the nature of interaction among the primary participants involved in the foundation of a unified monopolistic company. Fresh perspective to a number of historians’ conceptions is based on archive sources, personal and business correspondence. The dominant activity of the Shelikhov's relatives in government circles and in the market is revealed. In the absence of the most basic legal foundation necessary to a nascent market the state acted not as a guarantee of private property but as a giant joint-stock company.