Which 1720 speculative collapse is named after a company granted a British trade monopoly?

The 1720 speculative collapse named after a company with a British trade monopoly was the South Sea Bubble.

The South Sea Company received important privileges connected with British government debt and trade in the South Seas. Investors became increasingly excited about the company’s prospects, even though its expected commercial opportunities were far more limited than public enthusiasm suggested.

Its share price rose dramatically during 1720, helped by promotional campaigns, easy credit, and speculative buying. The price then collapsed, ruining many investors and causing a political scandal. Parliament investigated the company’s directors and associated corruption, while confidence in joint-stock ventures suffered.

The South Sea Bubble occurred during the same broad speculative era as the Mississippi Bubble in France. They are often mentioned together, but they were separate schemes in different countries. Tulip mania, another frequently cited bubble, occurred in the Netherlands much earlier and involved tulip contracts rather than a British trading company.