diff --git a/fetchai/ledger/__init__.py b/fetchai/ledger/__init__.py
index 628f898..4bd17a6 100644
--- a/fetchai/ledger/__init__.py
+++ b/fetchai/ledger/__init__.py
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
 # Ledger version that this API is compatible with
-__version__ = '0.9.0a1'
+__version__ = '0.9.0-a1'
 # This API is compatible with ledgers that meet all the requirements listed here:
 __compatible__ = ['<0.10.0', '>=0.8.0-alpha']
+
+
+class IncompatibleLedgerVersion(Exception):
+    pass
diff --git a/fetchai/ledger/api/__init__.py b/fetchai/ledger/api/__init__.py
index 9c6c169..86945ed 100644
--- a/fetchai/ledger/api/__init__.py
+++ b/fetchai/ledger/api/__init__.py
@@ -19,11 +19,11 @@
 import time
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta
 from typing import Sequence, Union
-
 import semver
 
+from fetchai.ledger.api import bootstrap
 from fetchai.ledger.api.server import ServerApi
-from fetchai.ledger import __compatible__
+from fetchai.ledger import __compatible__, IncompatibleLedgerVersion
 from .common import ApiEndpoint, ApiError, submit_json_transaction
 from .contracts import ContractsApi
 from .token import TokenApi
@@ -41,7 +41,13 @@ def _iterable(value):
 
 
 class LedgerApi:
-    def __init__(self, host, port):
+    def __init__(self, host=None, port=None, network=None):
+        if network:
+            assert not host and not port, 'Specify either a server name, or a host & port'
+            host, port = bootstrap.server_from_name(network)
+        else:
+            assert host and port, "Must specify either a server name, or a host & port"
+
         self.tokens = TokenApi(host, port)
         self.contracts = ContractsApi(host, port)
         self.tx = TransactionApi(host, port)
@@ -50,9 +56,9 @@ class LedgerApi:
         # Check that ledger version is compatible with API version
         server_version = self.server.version().lstrip('v')
         if not all(semver.match(server_version, c) for c in __compatible__):
-            raise RuntimeError("Ledger version running on server is not compatible with this API" +
-                               "\nServer version: {} \nExpected version: {}".format(
-                                   server_version, ', '.join(__compatible__)))
+            raise IncompatibleLedgerVersion("Ledger version running on server is not compatible with this API" +
+                                            "\nServer version: {} \nExpected version: {}".format(
+                                                server_version, ', '.join(__compatible__)))
 
     def sync(self, txs: Transactions, timeout=None):
         timeout = int(timeout or 120)
diff --git a/fetchai/ledger/api/bootstrap.py b/fetchai/ledger/api/bootstrap.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9991e24
--- /dev/null
+++ b/fetchai/ledger/api/bootstrap.py
@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+import requests
+import semver
+from fetchai.ledger import __version__, IncompatibleLedgerVersion
+
+
+class NetworkUnavailableError(Exception):
+    pass
+
+
+def list_servers(active=True):
+    """Gets list of (active) servers from bootstrap network"""
+    params = {'active': 1} if active else {}
+    servers_response = requests.get('https://bootstrap.fetch.ai/networks/', params=params)
+    if servers_response.status_code != 200:
+        raise requests.ConnectionError('Failed to get network status from bootstrap')
+
+    return servers_response.json()
+
+
+def is_server_valid(server_list, network):
+    # Check requested server is on list
+    available_servers = [s['name'] for s in server_list]
+    if network not in available_servers:
+        raise NetworkUnavailableError('Requested network not present on network: {}'.format(network))
+
+    # Check network version
+    server_details = next(s for s in server_list if s['name'] == network)
+    if server_details['versions'] != '*':
+        version_constraints = server_details['versions'].split(',')
+
+        # Build required version (e.g.: 0.9.1-alpha2 -> 0.9.0)
+        network_version_required = semver.parse(__version__)
+        network_version_required['prerelease'] = None
+        network_version_required['build'] = None
+        network_version_required['patch'] = 0
+
+        if not all(semver.match(network_version_required, c) for c in version_constraints):
+            raise IncompatibleLedgerVersion("Requested network does not support required version\n" +
+                                            "Required version: {}\nNetwork supports: {}".format(
+                                                network_version_required, ', '.join(version_constraints)
+                                            ))
+    # Return true if server valid
+    return True
+
+
+def get_ledger_address(network):
+    # Request server endpoints
+    params = {'network': network}
+    endpoints_response = requests.get('https://bootstrap.fetch.ai/endpoints', params=params)
+    if endpoints_response.status_code != 200:
+        raise requests.ConnectionError('Failed to get network endpoint from bootstrap')
+
+    # Retrieve ledger endpoint
+    ledger_endpoint = [s for s in endpoints_response.json() if s['component'] == 'ledger']
+    if len(ledger_endpoint) != 1:
+        raise NetworkUnavailableError('Requested server is not reporting a ledger endpoint')
+
+    # Return server address
+    ledger_endpoint = ledger_endpoint[0]
+    if 'address' not in ledger_endpoint:
+        raise RuntimeError('Ledger endpoint missing address')
+
+    return ledger_endpoint['address']
+
+
+def split_address(address):
+    """Splits a url into a protocol, host name and port"""
+    if '://' in address:
+        protocol, address = address.split('://')
+    else:
+        protocol = 'http'
+
+    if ':' in address:
+        address, port = address.split(':')
+    else:
+        port = 443 if protocol == 'https' else 8000
+
+    return protocol, address, int(port)
+
+
+def server_from_name(network):
+    """Queries bootstrap for the requested network and returns connection details"""
+    # Get list of active servers
+    server_list = list_servers(True)
+
+    # Check requested network exists and supports our ledger version
+    assert is_server_valid(server_list, network)
+
+    # Get address of network ledger
+    ledger_address = get_ledger_address(network)
+
+    # Check if address contains a port
+    protocol, host, port = split_address(ledger_address)
+
+    return protocol + '://' + host, port
diff --git a/fetchai/ledger/api/common.py b/fetchai/ledger/api/common.py
index 9a855d2..ef2ff6a 100644
--- a/fetchai/ledger/api/common.py
+++ b/fetchai/ledger/api/common.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ from fetchai.ledger.transaction import Transaction
 DEFAULT_BLOCK_VALIDITY_PERIOD = 100
 
 
-def format_contract_url(host: str, port: int, prefix: Optional[str], endpoint: Optional[str]):
+def format_contract_url(host: str, port: int, prefix: Optional[str], endpoint: Optional[str], protocol: str = None):
     """
     Constructs a URL based on specified contract prefix and endpoint
 
@@ -35,11 +35,14 @@ def format_contract_url(host: str, port: int, prefix: Optional[str], endpoint: O
     :param port: The target port
     :param prefix: The dot separated prefix for the contract
     :param endpoint: The dot separated name for the contract endpoint
+    :param protocol: Transfer protocol, either 'http' or 'https'
     :return: The formatted URL
     """
+    # Default to http protocol
+    protocol = protocol or 'http'
 
     if endpoint is None:
-        url = 'http://{}:{}/api/contract/submit'.format(host, port)
+        url = '{}://{}:{}/api/contract/submit'.format(protocol, host, port)
 
     else:
         if prefix is None:
@@ -47,12 +50,12 @@ def format_contract_url(host: str, port: int, prefix: Optional[str], endpoint: O
         else:
             canonical_name = '.'.join([prefix, endpoint])
 
-        url = 'http://{}:{}/api/contract/'.format(host, port) + canonical_name.replace('.', '/')
+        url = '{}://{}:{}/api/contract/'.format(protocol, host, port) + canonical_name.replace('.', '/')
 
     return url
 
 
-def submit_json_transaction(host: str, port: int, tx_data, session=None):
+def submit_json_transaction(host: str, port: int, tx_data, session=None, protocol: str = None):
     """
     Submit a JSON transaction to the target onde
 
@@ -60,13 +63,14 @@ def submit_json_transaction(host: str, port: int, tx_data, session=None):
     :param port: The port to target ledger instance
     :param tx_data: The object that will be json encoded
     :param session: Optional session object to be passed to the
+    :param protocol: Transfer protocol, either 'http' or 'https'
     :return: True is the request was successful, otherwise False
     """
     if session is None:
         session = requests.session()
 
     # define the URL to be used
-    uri = format_contract_url(host, port, None, 'submit')
+    uri = format_contract_url(host, port, None, 'submit', protocol=protocol)
 
     headers = {
         'content-type': 'application/vnd+fetch.transaction+json',
@@ -91,10 +95,20 @@ class ApiEndpoint(object):
     API_PREFIX = None
 
     def __init__(self, host, port):
+        if '://' in host:
+            protocol, host = host.split('://')
+        else:
+            protocol = 'http'
+
+        self._protocol = protocol
         self._host = str(host)
         self._port = int(port)
         self._session = requests.session()
 
+    @property
+    def protocol(self):
+        return self._protocol
+
     @property
     def host(self):
         return self._host
@@ -137,7 +151,7 @@ class ApiEndpoint(object):
     def _get_json(self, path, **kwargs):
         args = dict(**kwargs)
         params = args if len(args) > 0 else None
-        url = 'http://{}:{}/api/{}'.format(self._host, self._port, path)
+        url = '{}://{}:{}/api/{}'.format(self._protocol, self._host, self._port, path)
 
         # make the request
         raw_response = self._session.get(url, params=params)
@@ -167,7 +181,7 @@ class ApiEndpoint(object):
             endpoint = endpoint[1:]
 
         # format and make the request
-        url = format_contract_url(self.host, self.port, prefix or self.API_PREFIX, endpoint)
+        url = format_contract_url(self.host, self.port, prefix or self.API_PREFIX, endpoint, protocol=self.protocol)
 
         # define the request headers
         headers = {
@@ -207,7 +221,7 @@ class ApiEndpoint(object):
         tx_payload = dict(ver="1.2", data=base64.b64encode(tx_data).decode())
 
         # format the URL
-        url = format_contract_url(self.host, self.port, self.API_PREFIX, endpoint)
+        url = format_contract_url(self.host, self.port, self.API_PREFIX, endpoint, protocol=self.protocol)
 
         # make the request
         r = self._session.post(url, json=tx_payload, headers=headers)
diff --git a/fetchai/ledger/api/server.py b/fetchai/ledger/api/server.py
index dce39ef..0a76cf5 100644
--- a/fetchai/ledger/api/server.py
+++ b/fetchai/ledger/api/server.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ class ServerApi(ApiEndpoint):
 
         :return: dict of info returned by the /api/status endpoint
         """
-        url = 'http://{}:{}/api/status'.format(self.host, self.port)
+        url = '{}://{}:{}/api/status'.format(self.protocol, self.host, self.port)
 
         response = self._session.get(url).json()
 
diff --git a/fetchai/ledger/api/tx.py b/fetchai/ledger/api/tx.py
index c4dedf7..96a6746 100644
--- a/fetchai/ledger/api/tx.py
+++ b/fetchai/ledger/api/tx.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ class TransactionApi(ApiEndpoint):
         :return:
         """
 
-        url = 'http://{}:{}/api/status/tx/{}'.format(self.host, self.port, tx_digest)
+        url = '{}://{}:{}/api/status/tx/{}'.format(self.protocol, self.host, self.port, tx_digest)
 
         response = self._session.get(url).json()
         return response.get('status')

diff --git a/tests/api/test_bootstrap.py b/tests/api/test_bootstrap.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dbdd478
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/api/test_bootstrap.py
@@ -0,0 +1,183 @@
+import unittest
+from unittest.mock import patch, Mock
+
+import requests
+
+from fetchai.ledger import IncompatibleLedgerVersion
+from fetchai.ledger.api import LedgerApi, ApiEndpoint
+from fetchai.ledger.api.bootstrap import list_servers, NetworkUnavailableError, is_server_valid, get_ledger_address, \
+    split_address, server_from_name
+
+
+class BootstrapTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    @patch('semver.match')
+    @patch('fetchai.ledger.api.ApiEndpoint')
+    @patch('fetchai.ledger.api.bootstrap.server_from_name')
+    def test_called(self, mock_bootstrap, mock_api, mock_match):
+        """Test that Api initialisation gets server details from bootstrap method"""
+        # host/port details returned by bootstrap
+        mock_bootstrap.side_effect = [('host', 1234)]
+        # short-circuit version checking
+        mock_match.side_effect = [True] * 2
+        mock_api.version().side_effect = ['1.0.0']
+
+        # Check that all four api's created are passed the network details
+        with patch('fetchai.ledger.api.TokenApi') as tapi, \
+            patch('fetchai.ledger.api.ContractsApi') as capi, \
+            patch('fetchai.ledger.api.TransactionApi') as txapi, \
+            patch('fetchai.ledger.api.ServerApi') as sapi:
+
+            a = LedgerApi(network='alpha')
+
+            tapi.assert_called_once_with('host', 1234)
+            capi.assert_called_once_with('host', 1234)
+            txapi.assert_called_once_with('host', 1234)
+            sapi.assert_called_once_with('host', 1234)
+
+        # Check that bootstrap is queried
+        mock_bootstrap.assert_called_once_with('alpha')
+
+    def test_hostport_or_network(self):
+        """Tests that init accepts only a host+port pair, or a network"""
+        # If providing host or port, must provide both
+        with self.assertRaises(AssertionError):
+            a = LedgerApi(host='host')
+        with self.assertRaises(AssertionError):
+            a = LedgerApi(port=1234)
+        # If providing network, may not provide host or port
+        with self.assertRaises(AssertionError):
+            a = LedgerApi(host='host', network='alpha')
+        with self.assertRaises(AssertionError):
+            a = LedgerApi(port=1234, network='alpha')
+        with self.assertRaises(AssertionError):
+            a = LedgerApi(host='host', port=1234, network='alpha')
+
+    @patch('requests.get')
+    def test_list_servers(self, mock_get):
+        mock_response = Mock()
+        mock_response.status_code = 200
+        mock_get.side_effect = [mock_response]
+
+        # Test get called as expected
+        list_servers(True)
+        mock_response.json.assert_called_once_with()
+        mock_get.assert_called_once_with('https://bootstrap.fetch.ai/networks/', params={'active': 1})
+
+        # Test correct call when not filtering for activity
+        mock_response.json.reset_mock()
+        mock_get.reset_mock()
+        mock_get.side_effect = [mock_response]
+        list_servers(False)
+        mock_response.json.assert_called_once_with()
+        mock_get.assert_called_once_with('https://bootstrap.fetch.ai/networks/', params={})
+
+        # Test exception thrown on connection error
+        mock_response.status_code = 404
+        mock_get.reset_mock()
+        mock_get.side_effect = [mock_response]
+        with self.assertRaises(requests.exceptions.ConnectionError):
+            list_servers()
+
+    @patch('semver.match')
+    def test_is_server_valid(self, mock_match):
+        # Test error thrown if server not on list
+        server_list = [{'name': n} for n in ['abc', 'def', 'hij']]
+        network = 'xyz'
+        with self.assertRaises(NetworkUnavailableError):
+            is_server_valid(server_list, network)
+
+        # Test error thrown if versions incompatible
+        server_list = [{'name': n, 'versions': '>=0.6.0,<0.7.0'} for n in ['abc', 'def', 'hij']]
+        network = 'def'
+        mock_match.side_effect = [True, False]
+        with self.assertRaises(IncompatibleLedgerVersion):
+            is_server_valid(server_list, network)
+
+        # Test True returned if tests pass
+        server_list = [{'name': n, 'versions': '>=0.6.0,<0.7.0'} for n in ['abc', 'def', 'hij']]
+        network = 'def'
+        mock_match.side_effect = [True, True]
+        try:
+            out = is_server_valid(server_list, network)
+            self.assertTrue(out)
+        except Exception:
+            self.fail()
+
+    @patch('requests.get')
+    def test_get_ledger_address(self, mock_get):
+        network = 'def'
+        # Test Connection error
+        mock_response = Mock()
+        mock_response.status_code = 404
+        mock_get.side_effect = [mock_response]
+        with self.assertRaises(requests.exceptions.ConnectionError):
+            get_ledger_address(network)
+
+        # Test failure if ledger missing
+        mock_response.status_code = 200
+        mock_response.json.side_effect = [[{'network': network, 'component': c, 'address': 'https://foo.bar:500'}
+                                           for c in ['oef-core', 'oef-ms']]]
+        mock_get.side_effect = [mock_response]
+        with self.assertRaises(NetworkUnavailableError):
+            get_ledger_address(network)
+
+        # Test failure on address missing
+        mock_response.json.side_effect = [[{'network': network, 'component': c}
+                                           for c in ['oef-core', 'oef-ms', 'ledger']]]
+        mock_get.side_effect = [mock_response]
+        with self.assertRaises(RuntimeError):
+            get_ledger_address(network)
+
+        # Test correct return of address
+        mock_response.status_code = 200
+        mock_response.json.side_effect = [[{'network': network, 'component': c, 'address': 'https://foo.bar:500'}
+                                           for c in ['oef-core', 'oef-ms', 'ledger']]]
+        mock_get.side_effect = [mock_response]
+        out = get_ledger_address(network)
+        self.assertEqual(out, 'https://foo.bar:500')
+
+    def test_split_address(self):
+        # Test correct splitting of address into protocol, host, port
+        protocol, host, port = split_address('https://foo.bar:500')
+        self.assertEqual(protocol, 'https')
+        self.assertEqual(host, 'foo.bar')
+        self.assertEqual(port, 500)
+
+        # Test defaulting of protocol to http
+        protocol, host, port = split_address('foo.bar:500')
+        self.assertEqual(protocol, 'http')
+        self.assertEqual(host, 'foo.bar')
+        self.assertEqual(port, 500)
+
+        # Test default ports depending on protocol
+        protocol, host, port = split_address('https://foo.bar')
+        self.assertEqual(protocol, 'https')
+        self.assertEqual(host, 'foo.bar')
+        self.assertEqual(port, 443)
+
+        protocol, host, port = split_address('http://foo.bar')
+        self.assertEqual(protocol, 'http')
+        self.assertEqual(host, 'foo.bar')
+        self.assertEqual(port, 8000)
+
+    @patch('fetchai.ledger.api.bootstrap.list_servers')
+    @patch('fetchai.ledger.api.bootstrap.is_server_valid')
+    @patch('fetchai.ledger.api.bootstrap.get_ledger_address')
+    @patch('fetchai.ledger.api.bootstrap.split_address')
+    def test_server_from_name(self, mock_split, mock_address, mock_valid, mock_servers):
+        # Test that all steps called with expected arguments
+        network = 'def'
+        mock_servers.side_effect = ['servers']
+        mock_valid.side_effect = [True]
+        mock_address.side_effect = ['address']
+        mock_split.side_effect = [('protocol', 'host', 1234)]
+
+        host, port = server_from_name(network)
+
+        mock_servers.assert_called_once_with(True)
+        mock_valid.assert_called_once_with('servers', network)
+        mock_address.assert_called_once_with(network)
+        mock_split.assert_called_once_with('address')
+
+        self.assertEqual(host, 'protocol://host')
+        self.assertEqual(port, 1234)
\ No newline at end of file

Allow automatic connecting to network based on name
Add the ability for use to able to connect to a given network name instead of a host and port. i.e.

```python
api = LedgerApi(network='foobar')
```
tests/api/test_bootstrap.py::BootstrapTests::test_called tests/api/test_bootstrap.py::BootstrapTests::test_get_ledger_address tests/api/test_bootstrap.py::BootstrapTests::test_hostport_or_network tests/api/test_bootstrap.py::BootstrapTests::test_is_server_valid tests/api/test_bootstrap.py::BootstrapTests::test_list_servers tests/api/test_bootstrap.py::BootstrapTests::test_server_from_name tests/api/test_bootstrap.py::BootstrapTests::test_split_address