Bird, Savage & Bird

Bird, Savage & Bird, was a firm of London merchants transacting business with North America from about 1782. Manufactured goods were exported to America in exchange for semi-tropical crops, grown in locations such as South Carolina. Later Bird, Savage & Bird became the banking agents in Britain for the U.S. Government. In 1802 the American ambassador to Britain, Rufus King, instructed them to make a routine payment, but they were reluctant to fully comply. This led King to express his concern that their "affairs may not be altogether free of embarrassment", and in early 1803 his fears were realised when the House of Bird, Savage & Bird failed, leaving the United States as major creditors. To replace them, the U.S. Government appointed merchant bankers Francis Baring & Co. rdf:langString