清代广州同文行第一代行商潘振承商业活动考述——清代广州十三行行商研究之五

On the Commercial Activities of Phuakhequa,the First Generation Hong-Merchant of Tongwen Bank in Guangzhou in the Qing Dynasty

在清代十三行对外贸易中,潘振承无疑是最具影响力的行商之一。他青年时代即开始参与马尼拉的贸易,熟稔外文,积累了商业经验。18世纪40年代开始,潘振承将生意转向广州,活跃于广州的对外贸易中,在广东官府和外国商人里都颇具影响力。他作为广州第二次公行成立和解散中的关键人物,通过同文行以总商身份与英国东印度公司及其他欧洲各国商人进行贸易。他人情练达,能协调官场及各方的关系,化解危机,在长达半个世纪的经营浮沉中,展现出非凡的商业和政治智慧,驰骋于欧洲各国商人在广州的贸易往来,积累了巨额财富。潘振承的成功不仅有其个人和家族层面的意义,也是广州对外贸易发展史上的厚重一页。

In the foreign trade of the thirteen banks in the Qing Dynasty,Zhencheng Pan is undoubtedly the most influential businessman.In his youth,he began to participate in trade in Manila,became familiar with foreign languages,and accumulated business experience;From the 1740s,Zhencheng Pan turned his business to Guangzhou and was active in the foreign trade of the public bank.He was influential in Guangdong government and foreign businessmen.Zhencheng Pan was a key figure in the establishment and dissolution of Guangzhou's second Conhong.As the chief businessman of Conhong,Zhencheng Pan,Tongwen Hong-Merchant,traded with the British East India Company and Other European businessmen.Zhencheng Pan was able to coordinate official relations and resolve the crisis.He skillfully maintained a good relationship with government officials,especially the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi and the supervision of Guangdong Customs.In the ups and downs of business for half a century,he showed extraordinary commercial and political wisdom,balanced the trade exchanges of businessmen from European countries and accumulated huge wealth.Zhencheng Pan's success not only has its personal and family significance,but also a heavy page in the history of Guangzhou's foreign trade development.