What was the name of the London company at the center of the 1720 South Sea Bubble?

The South Sea Company was the London company at the center of the 1720 South Sea Bubble. Founded in 1711, it received a government-backed monopoly over British trade with Spanish South America, although its practical trading opportunities were much more limited than investors imagined.

The company took on part of Britain's government debt, and its shares soared during 1720 as speculation spread. Investors bought shares expecting enormous commercial profits. The price collapsed later that year, destroying fortunes and damaging confidence in British finance.

The South Sea Bubble is often discussed alongside France's Mississippi Bubble, which also burst in 1720. They were connected by the era's speculative fever but involved different companies and markets. Parliament investigated the South Sea episode, exposing corruption and improper dealings among company directors and public officials.