Jean Charles Léonard Simonde de Sismondi
1773–1842
Nationality: Swiss
Historical Period: The 19th Century
Sismondi was an economist, historian, and associate of Madame de Stael. Although he believed in free trade he was not a defender of pure laissez-faire principles. In his historical writings he focussed on the Italian city states of the middle ages. [The image comes from “The Warren J. Samuels Portrait Collection at Duke University.”]