Who is Adam Smith?

For those living in the UK, many of you will have noticed that a new £20 note is being released shortly and the man to figure on the note is none other than the brilliant economist Adam Smith.

Born in my hometown of Kirkcaldy in 1723, Adam Smith built up a reputation in the areas of philosophy and the political economy, before writing a volume of publications, at the age of 53, on ‘Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations’ which basically argued in favour of free trade as many governments were trying to regulate commerce and trade.

According to some reports, only 25% of the UK population have heard of Professor Smith and a poll was held which concluded that approximately 50% of the population had voted that Winston Churchill was a more favourable candidate for the new £20 note.

I however, a Kirkcaldy man, am in favour of the decision made as Adam Smith is one of the few claims to fame for my hometown.

Other claims to fame for Kirkcaldy include;

• The longest traveling street fair/market in Europe
• Gordon Brown, Chancellor of the Exchequer is the MP for this town
• Going back into the last 2 centuries Kirkcaldy was famous for its linoleum manufacturing

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