Adam Smith material on show for Japanese Ambassador

By Sarah Hepworth on June 19, 2009 • ( 0 )

Theory of Moral Sentiments by Adam Smith (title page of first edition)

Sp Coll Mu40-d.10

His Excellency Shin Ebihara, Japanese ambassador to the UK, visited the University yesterday. While the delegation were in the Library they saw some fascinating items held by Archive Services and Special Collections.

These included a letter from the philosopher and political economist Adam Smith (1723-1790) describing his time at the University of Glasgow as ‘by far the most useful and therefore by far the happiest and most honourable period of my life’. Smith was a student here, later becoming Professor of Logic, then Professor of Moral Philosophy. He was elected Rector in 1787.

Among other items displayed were first editions of Smith’s first publication, The Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759) and his classic work, An Inquiry into the nature and causes of the wealth of nations (1776).