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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Lanarkshire => Topic started by: Oletta on Monday 04 June 12 10:51 BST (UK)

Title: Job Description
Post by: Oletta on Monday 04 June 12 10:51 BST (UK)

Hi everyone

Can anyone tell me what a Commission agent did for a living?  Would they have travelled abroad with this job?

Look forward to hearing anyone

Regards

Oletta

Title: Re: Job Description
Post by: rosie99 on Monday 04 June 12 11:09 BST (UK)

http://www.familyresearcher.co.uk/glossary/Dictionary-of-Old-Occupations-jobs-beginning-C8.html


Doesn't say a lot though  ::)

Title: Re: Job Description
Post by: Lodger on Monday 04 June 12 11:21 BST (UK)

It was (and still is) a fancy name for a bookmaker (Bookie for short) someone who owned a gambling establishment.

Title: Re: Job Description
Post by: IMBER on Monday 04 June 12 12:18 BST (UK)

The term usually refers to a person or company sourcing and ordering (commissioning) items for third parties.  This was very common in the nineteenth century when British colonies had little option but to order goods from the home country.  Commission Agents could handle the whole exercise whether it be stoneware bottles, locomotives or whatever and identified suppliers, transport etc. An example is here:

http://www.aim25.ac.uk/cgi-bin/vcdf/detail?coll_id=18538&inst_id=118&nv1=browse&nv2=sub

Title: Re: Job Description
Post by: krismcd99 on Monday 04 June 12 12:22 BST (UK)

from http://www.census1891.com/occupations-a.htm it says the job is the same as an Agent and an Agent is "One who acts or transacts business for another" so yes I suspect they could have travelled alot depending on who their clients were.

Also I wanted to have a chat regarding Joseph Carr, he is a direct descendant of mine.

Title: Re: Job Description
Post by: Oletta on Monday 04 June 12 19:17 BST (UK)

Thank you all for your replies and all your relevant information given about a commission agent

Best Wishes

Oletta