David Kestenbaum reports. DAVID KESTENBAUM, BYLINE: The first person to short a stock was apparently a man named Isaac Le Maire. He lived almost 400 years ago in the Netherlands. I can't read 17th ...

and so his co-directors essentially banished him from the spice trade. Anyone else might've backed away, but Le Maire wanted revenge. And so the short sell was born.

By 1608 Isaac le Maire, a disgruntled former director ... 2007-09 would force him at least to borrow the stocks before selling them. Instead, short-sellers seek out companies whose shares they ...