Economic essays

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Identifikator:: 1753623200

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-136107

Document type:: Monograph

Title:: Economic essays

Place of publication:: New York

Publisher:: Macmillan

Year of publication:: 1927

Scope:: viii, 368 S.; Ill., graph. Darst.

Digitisation:: 2021

Collection:: Economics Books

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Title:: The early teaching of economics in the United States / Edwin R.A. Seligman

Collection:: Economics Books

THE EARLY TEACHING OF ECONOMICS IN THE UNITED STATES 307 and 1820. But this. of course, does not permit us positively fo conclude that political economy was taught before 1820; although it is highly probable. The question still remains as to who taught economics and how it was taught. Although political economy is mentioned in the catalogue of 1820, it must have been included in a more compre- hensive course; for the only subjects in which the seniors were examined in 1820 were, according to the faculty records, astronomy and chemistry, moral philosophy, mathematics, and metaphysics and theology. Political economy was, therefore, probably comprised in the course of moral philosophy. The first mention of any textbook is in the catalogue of 1825, when J. B. Say’s Political Economy was prescribed. As the first American translation of Say appeared in 1821, it is possible that the text was used a little before 1825. It appears therefore, that Political Economy was taught at Harvard in 1820, and possibly earlier. It was not until 1841, however, that a separate course in the subject was offered, although even then bearing the name political science. It was now also that we find for the first time a “tutor in political economy.” From 1853 political economy was taught by Bowen, Alford professor, to 1871, becoming again a part of the course in moral philosophy, although his own book on Political Economy was later used as a text. Finally, in 1871, Charles F. Dunbar was elected to the first separate professorship of political economy. The statement of Dr. Cooper as to the early teaching of Political Economy is therefore incorrect, so far as Harvard is concerned. But it can also be disproved in a number of other cases. In view of Dr. Cooper’s prominence in the South, it is remark- able that he should have been ignorant of the situation in William and Mary College. At that institution, as we know, Dr. Madison continued the instruction in political economy, with Adam Smith as a text, during the first decade of the century, and until his death in 1812. The course was in all probability continued by John A. Smith, who became president in 1814, and who declared in 1817 that he was then the only teacher of Political Science in any American college. A copy of the synopsis of his lectures

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