Thomas Sewall Adams
Encyclopedia
Thomas Sewall Adams was an American
economist
and educator, born in Baltimore, Maryland.
, Maryland
. He graduated from Baltimore City College
in 1893 and subsequently enrolled in Johns Hopkins University
, where he received his BA in 1896 and his Ph.D in 1899. In 1899, Adams was appointed assistant to the Treasurer of Puerto Rico
. He served in that capacity for one year, before joining the faculty of University of Wisconsin–Madison
as an associate professor of political economy
in 1901. He was elevated to a full professor in 1908.
Between 1911 and 1915, Adams served on the Wisconsin
tax commissioner and drafted many of that state's tax laws. In 1916, he was appointed to the faculty of Yale University
, where he served as a professor until his death in 1933. An economic adviser to the U. S. Treasury (1917-1933), he is credited with much of the taxation policy of the World War I and post-war period. He was president of the National Tax Association
(1922-1923), American Economic Association
(1927), and member of the fiscal committee, League of Nations (1929-1933).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
economist
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
and educator, born in Baltimore, Maryland.
Life
Thomas Sewall Adams was born on December 29, 1873 in BaltimoreBaltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. He graduated from Baltimore City College
Baltimore City College
The Baltimore City College , also referred to as The Castle on the Hill, historically as The College, and most commonly City, is a public high school in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A. The City College curriculum includes the International Baccalaureate Programme and emphasizes study in the classics...
in 1893 and subsequently enrolled in Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
, where he received his BA in 1896 and his Ph.D in 1899. In 1899, Adams was appointed assistant to the Treasurer of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. He served in that capacity for one year, before joining the faculty of University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
as an associate professor of political economy
Political economy
Political economy originally was the term for studying production, buying, and selling, and their relations with law, custom, and government, as well as with the distribution of national income and wealth, including through the budget process. Political economy originated in moral philosophy...
in 1901. He was elevated to a full professor in 1908.
Between 1911 and 1915, Adams served on the Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
tax commissioner and drafted many of that state's tax laws. In 1916, he was appointed to the faculty of Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, where he served as a professor until his death in 1933. An economic adviser to the U. S. Treasury (1917-1933), he is credited with much of the taxation policy of the World War I and post-war period. He was president of the National Tax Association
National Tax Association
The The National Tax Association is a non-profit organization committed to the education of tax issues to all people. NTA was first founded in 1907, and has since then strived to understand and address issues in the taxation system. Since its first founding, the NTA has become the leading...
(1922-1923), American Economic Association
American Economic Association
The American Economic Association, or AEA, is a learned society in the field of economics, headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. It publishes one of the most prestigious academic journals in economics: the American Economic Review...
(1927), and member of the fiscal committee, League of Nations (1929-1933).
Selected writings
Adams authored many books on economics and taxation policy, his published writings include:- Taxation in Maryland, (1900)
- Labor Problems (with H. L. Sumner, 1905)
- Mortgage Taxation in Wisconsin and Neighboring States, (1907)
- Outlines in Economics, (with R. T. ElyRichard T. ElyRichard Theodore Ely was an American economist, author, and leader of the Progressive movement who called for more government intervention in order to reform what they perceived as the injustices of capitalism, especially regarding factory conditions, compulsory education, child labor, and labor...
, 1908)