Adam Smith statue unveiling - Friday 4 July 2008 - Edinburgh

I have been asked to help publicise the forthcoming events in Edinburgh next week, when a statue of Adam Smith will be unvelied on Friday 4 July opposite the City of Edinburgh Council Chambers at 12.00 noon.

I am happy to do so.

Below is the text of an email I received during last week (when I was myself away visiting Glasgow):

Hi Bill Apologies for crashing into your emails but I am trying to publicise an important Scottish event, the unveiling of the new Adam Smith statue in Edinburgh on 4 July and associated events. I enclose details of two major events associated with the unveiling of the new Adam Smith statue in Edinburgh (opposite the City of Edinburgh Council Chambers) on 4 July at 12 noon. Adam Smith (1723-1790) hardly needs an introduction and his significance as a leading light of the Scottish Enlightenment through his books, The Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759) and his Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations (1776) is recognised by people from all academic disciplines. The new statue, by Alexander Stoddart, was provided by private subscriptions arranged through the Adam Smith Institute, and is the first major statue of Adam Smith to be erected in the world. The statue is located by the Cathedral and opposite the City Chambers, where Smith worked as a Scottish Commissioner of Customs from 1778 up to a few weeks before he died in 1790. He was buried in the Canongate Kirkyard, not far down the Royal Mile. A little further on is Panmure House, Smith's residence in Edinburgh, where he lived with his mother, Margaret Douglas Smith (1690-1784), and his cousin, Janet Douglas (d.1788) for twelve years, and regularly dined and debated with many members of the Scottish Enlightenment. We would appreciate your help in disseminating news of the unveiling of the statue to your readers and inviting them to attend the associated events. If you have any questions or need additional details please call Tom Clougherty on Tel +44 (0)20 7222 4995 or email: tom@adamsmith.org Gavin Kennedy www.adamsmithslostlegacy.com email: gavin@negweb.com

The events scheduled for the coming week:

EVENTS Adam Smith Statue Unveiling 3-4 July 2008 Thursday 3 July 2008 RECEPTION AND DEBATE: This House would prefer to be led by the Invisible Hand Chaired by BBC Scotland Political Editor Brian Taylor. - Proposing: Lord Forsyth of Drumlean (former Scottish Secretary), Dr Madsen Pirie (Adam Smith Institute) and Andy Hume (past World Debating Champion) - Opposing: Brian Wilson (former Energy minister), Alex Neil MSP (Scottish National Party) and Kenny Fleming (former Observer Mace Champion) - In The Caves, 8-12 Niddry Street South, Edinburgh EH1 1NS (off Cowgate) 6.30pm for 7pm Friday 4 July 2008 UNVEILING OF THE ADAM SMITH STATUE By Nobel economist Professor Vernon Lomax Smith, High Street, Edinburgh, near Parliament Square and the Mercat Cross 12.00 noon for 12.15pm.