Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
SYNOPSIS
EARLY YEARS
PROFESSIONAL LIFE
Early Years
While his exact date of birth isnt known, Adam Smiths baptism was recorded on June 5, 1723, in
Kirkcaldy, Scotland. He attended the Burgh School, where he studied Latin, mathematics, history and
writing. Smith entered the University of Glasgow when he was 14 and in 1740 went to Oxford.
Professional Life
In 1748, Adam Smith began giving a series of public lectures at the University of Edinburgh. Through
these lectures, in 1750 he met and became lifelong friends with Scottish philosopher and economist
David Hume. This relationship led to Smith's appointment to the Glasgow University faculty in 1751.
In 1759 Smith published The Theory of Moral Sentiments, a book whose main contention is that human
morality depends on sympathy between the individual and other members of society. On the heels of the
book, he became the tutor of the future Duke of Buccleuch (17631766) and traveled with him to France,
where Smith met with other eminent thinkers of his day, such as Benjamin Franklin and French economist
Turgot.