M'Culloch, JOHN RAMSAY

M'Culloch, JOHN RAMSAY, political economist, was born at Whithorn, Wigtownshire, 1st March 1789. At first a clerk in a lawyer's office, he became known in connection with the Scotsman newspaper (of which he was editor in 1818-19) and the Edinburgh Review. He made his début in the Review in 1818, with an article on Ricardo's Principles of Political Economy, and for twenty years contributed almost all the economical articles, with a few on other subjects. He lectured and taught in London on political economy; in 1828 was chosen professor of Political Economy in University College, London; in 1838 was appointed Comptroller of H.M. Stationery Office, a situation which he held till his death, 11th November 1864. His principal publications comprise: The Principles of Political Economy (1820); The Literature of Political Economy (1845); On the Succession to Property vacant by Death (1848); On the Rate of Wages (1826-51); A Dictionary of Commerce (1832; new ed. 1875-80); Statistical Account of the British Empire (1837); Geographical Dictionary; A Treatise on Taxation and the Funding System (1845); Dictionary, Geographical, Statistical, &c. (1841-42); Partnership, &c. (1856). He also edited Smith's Wealth of Nations and Ricardo's works. M'Culloch was a Foreign Associate of the Institute of France; and Peel conferred on him a pension of £200 a year.