Richard Boothby

Richard Boothby was a British merchant who had reinvested his capital in the East India Company around 1615. After sailing to India, he was jailed due to a dispute with company officials. When he was set at liberty, he returned to Londen by way of Madagascar. Inspired by this beautiful island, he wrote a book about the opportunities for trade and colonization of Madagascar. In this book he advised the East India Company’s rivals to take advantage of it as the ideal location for a European colony.