Charles Davenant, from Discourse on the Plantation Trade (1698)

Charles Davenant (1656–1714) was the eldest son of the dramatist William D’Avenant. He was the commissioner of excise under James II, and, although not employed under William III, was appointed inspector-general under Queen Anne from 1705 until his death. Davenant was a prolific analyst of political economy, writing works such as A Discourse on the Publick Revenues and of the Trade of England (1698) and Essays on the Balance of Power (1701). His collected works were published in 1771 by Charles Whitworth MP.