The most influential economist: adam smith

Later years[edit]
In 1766, Henry Scott's younger brother died in Paris, and Smith's tour as a tutor ended shortly thereafter.^[44] Smith returned home that year to Kirkcaldy, and he devoted much of the next decade to writing his magnum opus.^[45] There, he befriended Henry Moyes, a young blind man who showed precocious aptitude. Smith secured the patronage of David Hume and Thomas Reid in the young man's education.^[46] In May 1773, Smith was elected fellow of the Royal Society of London,^[47] and was elected a member of the Literary Club in 1775. The Wealth of Nations was published in 1776 and was an instant success, selling out its first edition in only six months.^[48]
In 1778, Smith was appointed to a post as commissioner of customs in Scotland and went to live with his mother (who died in 1784)^[49] in Panmure House in Edinburgh's Canongate.^[50] Five years later, as a member of the Philosophical Society of Edinburgh when it received its royal charter, he automatically became one of the founding members of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.^[51] From 1787 to 1789, he occupied the honorary position of Lord Rector of the University of Glasgow.^[52]
Death[edit]

A commemorative plaque for Smith is located in Smith's home town of Kirkcaldy.

Smith died in the northern wing of Panmure House in Edinburgh on 17 July 1790 after a painful illness. His body was buried in the Canongate Kirkyard.^[53] On his deathbed, Smith expressed disappointment that he had not achieved more.^[54]
Smith's literary executors were two friends from the Scottish academic world: the physicist and chemist Joseph Black and the pioneering geologist James Hutton.^[55] Smith left behind many notes and some unpublished material, but gave instructions to destroy anything that was not fit for publication.^[56] He mentioned an early unpublished History of Astronomy as probably suitable, and it duly appeared in 1795, along with other material such as Essays on Philosophical Subjects.^[55]
Smith's library went by his will to David Douglas, Lord Reston (son of his cousin Colonel Robert Douglas of Strathendry, Fife), who lived with Smith.^[57] It was eventually divided between his two surviving children, Cecilia Margaret (Mrs. Cunningham) and David Anne (Mrs. Bannerman). On the death in 1878 of her husband, the Reverend W. B. Cunningham of Prestonpans, Mrs. Cunningham sold some of the books. The remainder passed to her son, Professor Robert Oliver Cunningham of Queen's College, Belfast, who presented a part to the library of Queen's College. After his death, the remaining books were sold. On the death of Mrs. Bannerman in 1879, her portion of the library went intact to the New College (of the Free Church) in Edinburgh and the collection was transferred to the University of Edinburgh Main Library in 1972.
Personality and beliefs[edit]