John Smith: A Brief Biography Of Adam Smith

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Adam Smith was born in Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland on an unknown date. While the exact birth date of Smith is unknown, records show that he was baptized on June 5, 1723. He was the son of the comptroller of customs in his small village; however, his father sadly died approximately six months prior to Adam being born. He was then raised by a widowed mother. Around the age of 15, Adam Smith attended Glasgow University where he studied moral philosophy. About two years later, in 1940, Smith enrolled in Balliol College at Oxford. However, it has been said, “The Oxford of his time gave little if any help towards what was to be his lifework” (“Biography of Adam Smith (1723-1790)”). Following his academic career, Smith served as the tutor of the young Duke of Buccleuch. After traveling through France and into Switzerland with the duke of over two years, Smith went back to his hometown of Kirkcaldy and began the writing of The Wealth of Nations.
In his time, Smith was a huge advocate of charity but also self-interest. He disagreed with the notion that self-love “was a principle which could ne...

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