Adam Smith Fact Sheet

Name: Adam Smith

Brief History: Born in June of 1723 in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, he was raised by his mother, as his father had died before his birth. Educated at the Universities of Glasgow and Scotland, Balliol College, and Oxford University, he became a respected writer and teacher, regarded as the stereotypical absent-minded professor. In 1751, at the age of 27, Smith was given the Chair of Logic at Glasgow University, soon to be followed by the Chair of Moral Philosophy. In 1759, Smith published a book about moral approval, called The Theory of Moral Sentiments, a novel which significantly enhanced his credibility and reputation. Five years later, Smith travelled to France, where he stayed for a year and a half. There he began to ponder the intricacies of the economy, and the nature of value and took notes on his findings. These became the basis of his political and economic manifesto The Wealth of Nations, published in 1776. Gave speeches on the ideas laid out in his book until his death in1790.

Contacts: David Hume, Francis Hutchesan, William Hamilton, Edmund Burke, François Quesnay.

Height: 5 feet, 6 inches.

Weight: 154 lbs.

Financial Situation: Professor’s income, supplemented by book sales. Estimated income: £40,000 (adjusted for inflation).

Clothing: Mismatched and often incorrectly sized.

Hair: White, curled at sides.

Preferred Drink: Scotch.

Preferred Food: Haggis.

Jewelry: None. Believes it to be a frivolous purchase.

Embarrassing Moment: Wardrobe malfunction during economics lecture. Has never worn a kilt since.

Secret Conversation: While in France, a source close to the French government quoted him as having said that Louis XVI would surely provoke a rebellion if he pursued his misguided economic policies.