Henry C. Carey

The American economist Henry C. Carey (1793-1879) wrote on economics and tariffs, and headed the American Philosophical Society.
In 1835 he retired from publishing (he had been partner and president of Carey & Lea, a leading publishing house in Philadelphia), to devote himself to economics. His "Principles of Political Economy" and "Principles of Social Science" were among the first important American works in the field. Carey opposed the dominant British political economy of the day, particularly the "pessimism" of Ricardo and Malthus, and led in the theoretical development of American economic nationalism. Translated into at least eight languages, his books were often used as a foil for "laissez-faire" economic policies.