What if the smartest financial mind in 1720s England single-handedly created history's first stock market crash? In this episode, Michael Stevens reveals how John Blunt, a former clerk turned financial mastermind, turned England's crushing debt into a speculative bubble that nearly destroyed the economy. Here's the wild part: Blunt knew exactly what he was doing. 🎯 What You'll Learn: • How England's £50 million debt (equivalent to the entire government's annual income) became Blunt's opportunity • The psychological tricks Blunt used to drive South Sea Company stock from £128 to over £1,000 in eight months • Why Spain's trade restrictions didn't stop investors from pouring money into a company that couldn't actually trade 👤 Perfect for: anyone who's ever wondered how financial bubbles actually start and why smart people make terrible investment decisions when greed takes over. 📍 Chapters: [00:00] Michael Stevens introduces the man behind history's first stock crash [02:00] From scrivener to schemer: John Blunt's rise to power [04:30] The brilliant con: turning government debt into investment gold [07:00] How Blunt manipulated public perception and stock prices [09:30] The warning signs everyone ignored [11:00] Why this pattern keeps repeating in modern markets The craziest part? Blunt's scheme was technically legal. He found loopholes in a system that wasn't ready for someone this clever and ruthless. Stevens connects Blunt's tactics to modern financial manipulation, showing how the same psychological triggers still work today. 🔔 Never miss an episode: Follow When Rome Burns and turn on notifications. New episodes drop daily, and tomorrow Stevens covers what happened when Blunt's bubble finally burst. Your next favorite historical disaster is one tap away. 🔍 Topics: South Sea Bubble, stock market crash, financial history, John Blunt, 18th century England

Stream the full show at When Rome Burns

------ Keywords: ancient rome, political meltdowns, civilization collapse, hitler

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