What was the 1720 English financial bubble involving the South Sea Company called?

The 1720 English financial bubble involving the South Sea Company was called the South Sea Bubble.

The South Sea Company received rights connected with British trade in South America and took on government debt. Investors came to believe that its commercial prospects were enormous, and its share price rose dramatically during 1720.

The company’s shares reached about £1,000 in August 1720 before collapsing by the end of the year. Many investors suffered severe losses, and the scandal damaged public confidence in financial promotion and political oversight.

The South Sea Bubble was part of a wider European speculation episode. France’s Mississippi Bubble unfolded around the same time under John Law, but it was a separate scheme. The English crisis also produced investigations into corruption involving company directors and public officials.