Adam Anderson (economist) facts for kids

Adam Anderson (born in 1692 or 1693 – died on January 10, 1765) was a Scottish expert who studied how countries make and use money, also known as an economist. He is best known for writing a big book about the history of trade and business.

Who Was Adam Anderson?

Adam Anderson worked for over 40 years at the South Sea House, which was the main office for a company called the South Sea Company. This company was involved in trade and finance. By the time he passed away in 1765 in Clerkenwell, he had become a very important clerk, managing the company's stocks and new investments.

His Big Book: A History of Trade

Anderson's most important work was a book often called Anderson's History of Commerce. It was published just before he died. The full title was very long: An Historical and Chronological Deduction of the Origin of Commerce from the Earliest Accounts to the Present Time.

This book was like a huge timeline of how trade and business started and grew throughout history. It also focused on the important business interests of the British Empire. The book included an introduction that looked at how Europe was doing in ancient and modern times. It also talked about how important Britain's colonies were, and how trade, shipping, factories, and fishing affected the country.

Later Editions of His Work

His famous book was re-released in 1787 with a slightly shorter title. It came out in four large volumes, which means it was a very big and detailed collection of information.

Family Connections

It is thought that Adam Anderson might have been the brother of James Anderson, who was a well-known Freemason. Freemasons are part of a very old social and charitable organization.