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Cosmopolitan colonists: gentlemen's pursuit of cosmopolitanism and hierarchy in British American taverns

This article investigates the tavern interactions of colonial elites to gain a deeper understanding of the multiple meanings of cosmopolitanism in the eighteenth century. It reveals that the pursuit of cosmopolitanism helped colonial gentlemen entrench their own notions of social exclusion and national superiority to become “citizens of the world.” Such an identity was indeed based upon genteel conceptions of exclusivity and nationalism as much as – if not more than – the goal of a wider humanism. Gentlemen's experiences in taverns – perhaps the most widespread, accessible, and globally-connected public spaces in the colonies – highlight the complications and opportunities of cosmopolitanism in the eighteenth-century British American colonies as well as providing an informative lens through which to understand larger processes of Enlightenment, globalization, social conflict, and gentility. Aspiring cosmopolites could barricade themselves in private tavern rooms (well-stocked with books, maps, prints, and consumer goods) to engage in sophisticated clubs, debate cosmopolitan matters with men from across the globe, sip exotic beverages such as coffee, tea, chocolate, and wine, and above all distinguish themselves as separate, superior members of the world community. Ultimately, this article reveals that colonial gentlemen utilized taverns to adjust cosmopolitanism to fit their goals of gentility and exclusivity.