The Wealth of Nations · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith.
Adam Smith
major
Also known as Dr. Adam Smith, Smith, Probably Smith
Author and narrator of the work, analyzing economic systems.
The Teacher
supporting
Also known as the teacher, himself, The teacher
Recurring generic figure used to illustrate economic principles.
The Proprietors
supporting
Also known as The proprietors, the proprietors, the Proprietors
Landowners whose rent and interests are discussed throughout.
The Colonies
supporting
Also known as the colonies, Their, themselves, their
American colonies as a collective economic actor.
Great Britain
supporting
Also known as its, Its, herself, it
The nation-state as a central economic entity.
The Employer
supporting
Also known as himself, The employer, the employer
Generic figure representing capital owners in labor relations.
A Workman
supporting
Also known as himself, a workman
Generic laborer used to illustrate wage dynamics.
The Dutch
supporting
Also known as the Dutch, The Dutch, themselves, theirs, their
The Dutch people as a commercial and economic example.
The Master
supporting
Also known as The master, the master
Generic employer or overseer in economic examples.
Columbus
minor
Also known as himself
Explorer whose voyages are cited in colonial context.
Bishop Fleetwood
minor
Also known as Fleetwood, Bishop Fleetwood
Historical figure cited for wage and price data.
The Servants
supporting
Also known as the servants, theirs, themselves, The servants, their
Generic domestic workers in economic examples.
The Romans
minor
Also known as The Romans, the Romans, Romans, their
Ancient Roman society used as historical comparison.
Servants
supporting
Also known as servants, their, Servants
General category of hired help in economic analysis.
Adam Anderson
minor
Also known as Adam Anderson, Anderson
Historian cited for commercial and price data.
Mr. Meggens
minor
Also known as Mr. Meggens
Cited authority on trade and prices.
The Spaniards
minor
Also known as the Spaniards, The Spaniards, Their, themselves, their
Spanish people as colonial and economic example.
The Masters
supporting
Also known as the masters, The masters, their
Collective term for employers in labor discussions.
Their Masters
supporting
Also known as their masters
Employers referenced from workers' perspective.
Edward I and III
minor
Also known as Edward I, Edward III
English kings cited for historical economic policies.
Masters
supporting
Also known as Masters, their, masters
Generic employers in economic examples.
Charles II
minor
Also known as Charles II, Charles I, King Charles II
English king cited for economic legislation.
The Judges
minor
Also known as the judges, their, The judges
Judicial figures in discussions of justice and economy.
Mr. Kalm
minor
Also known as Mr. Kalm, Kalm
Traveler cited for observations on colonies.
Francis Hutcheson
minor
Also known as Francis Hutcheson, Hutcheson
Philosopher and teacher of Adam Smith.
Charles Smith
minor
Also known as Smith, Charles Smith, Charles
Author cited on corn trade and prices.
Queen Elizabeth I
minor
Also known as Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth
English queen cited for economic policies.
Their Master
supporting
Also known as their master, himself
Singular employer from workers' perspective.
William III
minor
Also known as William III, William
English king cited for financial reforms.
The Servants of the Company
minor
Also known as The servants of the company, the servants of the company, themselves, their
Employees of trading companies in colonial context.
Isocrates
minor
Also known as Isocrates, himself
Ancient Greek orator cited for economic observations.
The Europeans
minor
Also known as the Europeans, Europeans
European peoples as collective economic actors.
The Portuguese
minor
Also known as the Portuguese, The Portuguese, Portuguese, themselves, their
Portuguese people as colonial and trade example.
Henry VIII
minor
Also known as Henry VIII, King Henry VIII, himself
English king cited for economic and religious policies.
The Priests
minor
Also known as the priests, their
Religious figures in discussions of education and economy.
Don Antoine de Ulloa
minor
Also known as Ulloa, don Antoine de Ulloa
Spanish explorer and writer cited on South America.
The Peruvians
minor
Also known as the Peruvians, Their, their
Indigenous people of Peru as economic example.
Their Servants
supporting
Also known as their servants
Servants belonging to employers or masters.
Those Officers
minor
Also known as Those officers, their, those officers
Generic officials in administrative examples.
Holland
minor
Also known as Holland, its, their
Dutch province as economic model.
Dr. Mandeville
minor
Also known as Mandeville, Dr. Mandeville
Philosopher and author of The Fable of the Bees.
David Hume
minor
Also known as Hume, Mr. Hume, Hume
Philosopher and friend of Smith, cited on economics.
Gregory King
minor
Also known as Mr. Gregory King, Mr. King, Gregory King
Statistician cited for population and economic data.
His Master
supporting
Also known as his master
Individual master referenced in examples.
Dugald Stewart
minor
Also known as Dugald Stewart, Stewart, Dugald Stewart, Stewart
Philosopher and biographer of Adam Smith.
Columella
minor
Also known as Columella
Roman writer on agriculture cited for economic data.
The Greeks
minor
Also known as the Greeks, their
Ancient Greek society as historical comparison.
The Famous Gassendi
minor
Also known as The famous Gassendi
French philosopher cited for economic ideas.
All Servants and Labourers
supporting
Also known as all servants and labourers, their
Collective category of workers in economic analysis.
Reverend Mr. John Smith
minor
Also known as Mr. Smith, Smith, the Reverend Mr. John Smith, John Smith
Clergyman cited on population and economic data.
Asdrubal
minor
Also known as Asdrubal
Carthaginian general cited as historical example.
A Master
supporting
Also known as a master
Indefinite singular employer in examples.
Officers
minor
Also known as officers
Generic officials in administrative contexts.
The Customhouse Officer
minor
Also known as the customhouse officer
Customs official in trade examples.
The French
minor
Also known as the French, The French, their
French people as economic and political example.
Aristotle
minor
Also known as Aristotle, 1400 Aristotle
Ancient Greek philosopher cited on economics.
Mr. Duprè de St. Maur
minor
Also known as Mr. Duprè de St. Maur
French author cited on population and prices.
Menial Servants
supporting
Also known as menial servants, Their, their
Domestic servants in economic classification.
Those Masters
supporting
Also known as Those masters, Their, those masters, their
Specific group of employers in examples.
W. Strahan
minor
Also known as Strahan, W. Strahan
Publisher of Adam Smith's works.
Plato
minor
Also known as Plato, himself
Ancient Greek philosopher cited on economics.
Silver
minor
Also known as Silver, its, Its, it
Precious metal personified in value discussions.
Annibal
minor
Also known as Annibal
Carthaginian general cited as historical example.
John Rae
minor
Also known as John Rae, Rae, Rae
Biographer of Adam Smith.
Henry III
minor
Also known as Henry III, Henry
English king cited for economic policies.
The Tartars
minor
Also known as the Tartars, the Scythians, the Scythians or Tartars, from whom too they were probably descended, their
Nomadic peoples as historical economic example.
Sir Matthew Decker
minor
Also known as Sir Matthew Decker, Decker
Merchant and writer on trade cited by Smith.
Cp. Hume
minor
Also known as Cp, Hume, Cp . Hume
Possibly a variant reference to David Hume.
Common Servants
supporting
Also known as common servants, Their, their
Ordinary domestic workers in examples.
John Locke
minor
Also known as Mr. Locke, Locke
Philosopher cited on property and value.
Chief Baron Gilbert
minor
Also known as Chief Baron Gilbert, Robert
Legal writer cited on property and revenue.
Isabella, Mary, Ann
minor
Also known as Isabella, Mary, Ann, 4 Ann, Bell, John Bell of Antermony
Historical figures cited in colonial context.
Joseph Harris
minor
Also known as Joseph Harris, Harris
Writer on money and coins cited by Smith.
James Postlethwayt
minor
Also known as Postlethwayt, James Postlethwayt, Postlethwayt
Writer on commerce and public revenue.
Parish Officers
minor
Also known as parish officers, their, themselves
Local officials in discussions of poor relief.
Clerks of a Great Countinghouse
minor
Also known as the clerks of a great countinghouse at ten thousand miles distance, and consequently almost quite out of sight, should, upon a simple order from their masters, themselves, their
Remote clerks in colonial trade example.
George III
minor
Also known as George III
British king during Smith's time.
George II
minor
Also known as George II, the 23rd George II, George I, George
British king cited for economic legislation.
Mr. Lowndes
minor
Also known as Mr. Lowndes, Lowndes, Lowndes
Official cited on coinage and currency.
Christiern II
minor
Also known as Christiern II
Danish king cited as historical example.
The Chinese
minor
Also known as the Chinese, their, themselves
Chinese people as economic comparison.
Mr. Pelham
minor
Also known as Mr. Pelham
British politician cited for financial policy.
Sir Josiah Child
minor
Also known as Sir Josiah Child, Child
Merchant and writer on trade cited by Smith.
