Adam Smith
...niversity of Glasgow. He was only 14, when he stepped into the University. Mathematics and Natural Sciences were his favorite subjects. At Glasgow, he attended the lectures of Dr. Francis Hutcheson, called The Father of Speculative Philosophy in Scotland in Modern Times. Hutcheson’s theory of moral sense had much influence on Smith’s life and speculations. At 17, the University of Glasgow sent Adam to Balliol, Oxford. Adam was sent as a Snell Exhibitioner with a service in the Church of England. The influence of his early taste for Greek Geometry may be remarked in the elementary clarity of thoughts. The lectures of Dr. Hutcheson, which he had attended prior to his departure from Glasgow had a huge affect on his life also. In England he worked as a English-French translator for quite some time. He studied more and more on elder and newer languages of all sorts.. He acquired the skill to converse particularly with the works of the Roman, Greek, French and Italian poets. During his stay in England, he declined to enter into the priestly profession, because he was more fascinated with literature. After seven years residency at Oxford, he returned to his homeland and lived with his mother for two years. He then engulfed himself in study, still without any plans for his future. In 1748, he stayed there at Edinburgh and during that period read lectures on Rhetoric and Belles Lettres, under the trade of Lord Kames – a well-known person connected to Scottish literature. This formed the greater part of his lectures at Glasgow later on. His lectures were successful and students from far away places, came to hear them. In Edinburgh, he developed an intimate friendship with Alexander Wedderburn, and later with Lord Loughborough and William Johnstones; these were friendships which would continue for the rest of his life. In 1751, he was elected Professor of Logic in the University of Glasgow, and after a year was appointed Professor of Moral Philosophy. The appointment was followed by the death of Thomas Craigie, the immediate successor of Dr. Hutcheson. His reputation as a professor spread, and many students from from far-off places joined the University. The branches of science, which he taught, became well equipped at the University. His opinions were the chief topics of discussion in clubs and literary societies. The first edition of his work appeared in 1759, under the title The Theory of Moral Sentiments. After the publication of this work, Adam lived for four years at Glasgow. During his early years at Glasgow, Adam developed a close friendship with David Hume. It was Hume, who was responsible for Smith’s travel abroad with the Duke of Buccleach after the publication of The Theory of Moral Sentiments. It is believed that he traveled to Paris, Toulouse and Geneva. On that voyage, he met with men of letters and philosophers, such as D’ Alemhert, Helvetuis, Marmontel, and Morellet. The Duke and the Philosopher became good friends during this tour abroad. They returned to London in October 1766. The next 10 years of Adam’s life were spent at home with his mother and cousin, preparing his next work, The Wealth of Nations. After the publication of The Wealth of Nations, became pretty famous. Hume, in his last days, sent a congratulatory letter to Adam. But he was against some principles of Adam and wanted him to discuss the points of this dispute. Eventually, they met and this was their last meeting before Hume’s death. About two years after the publication of The Wealth of Nations, Adam was appointed one of the Commissioners of his Majesty’s Customs in Scotland, a position which was bestowed on him at the request of the Duke of Buccleach. The greater part of those two years were spent by him in London in the middle of a literary soci...