An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations

About the Author

Adam Smith

Adam Smith (1723-1790) was a Scottish economist, philosopher, and author who became a pivotal figure in the Scottish Enlightenment. Born in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, Smith studied at the University of Glasgow and Oxford before beginning his academic career as a professor of logic and later moral philosophy at Glasgow University. His first major work, 'The Theory of Moral Sentiments' (1759), explored human morality and sympathy, while his masterpiece 'An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations' (1776) established him as the father of modern economics. Smith's ideas about free markets, the division of labor, and the 'invisible hand' that guides self-interest toward social benefit fundamentally shaped economic thought. Beyond his published works, Smith served as a customs commissioner in Edinburgh and was a member of the influential intellectual circle that included David Hume, James Watt, and James Hutton. Though he never married and lived modestly despite his fame, Smith's legacy has been profound and enduring, influencing economic policy and philosophy for over two centuries.