Adam Smith (16 June 1723 – 17 July 1790) was aScottish social philosopher and a pioneer of political economy. Smith is best known for two classic works, *The Theory of Moral Sentiments* (1759) and *An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations* (1776). The latter, usually abbreviated as *The Wealth of Nations*, is considered his magnum opus and the first modern work of economics. **Source**: [Adam Smith](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Smith) on Wikipedia.