Arthur Latham Perry

Arthur Latham Perry was an influential American economist and educator known for his advocacy of free trade. Born in Lyme, New Hampshire, he graduated from Williams College in 1852 and went on to serve as the Orrin Sage Professor of history and political economy at the same institution from 1853 until 1891, when he became professor emeritus. His academic career was marked by a commitment to teaching and a prolific output of written works that shaped economic thought in the United States. Perry's most notable contributions include his seminal texts, "Political Economy" (1865) and "Introduction to Political Economy" (1877), both of which were widely used and went through numerous editions, reflecting their significance in the field. His final work, "Principles of Political Economy," published in 1891, encapsulated his views and further solidified his legacy as a key figure in American economic thought. Perry's emphasis on free trade and his scholarly approach to political economy left a lasting impact on both his students and the broader discourse of economics in the late 19th century.