The crisis of 1772, also known as the credit crisis of 1772 or the panic of 1772, is a peacetime financial crisis that originates in London, then spreads to other parts of Europe, such as Scotland and Netherlands.

On 8 June 1772, Alexander Fordyce, a partner in the banking house Neal, James, Fordyce and Down in London, flees to France to avoid debt repayment, and the resulting collapse of the firm stirs up panic in London.

Economic growth in this period is highly dependent on the use of credit, which is largely based upon people’s confidence in the banks.

As confidence starts ebbing, paralysis of the credit system follows: crowds of people gathers at the banks and request debt repayment in cash or attempt to withdraw their deposits.

As a result, twenty important banking houses go bankrupt or stop  payment by the end of June, and many other firms endure hardships during the crisis.

At this time, the Gentleman’s Magazine comments, "No event for 50 years past has been remembered to have given so fatal a blow both to trade and public credit".