Adam Smith was a Scottish economist, philosopher, and author as well as a moral philosopher, a pioneer of political economy, and a key figure during the Scottish Enlightenment era. He is best known for two classic works: 'The Theory of Moral Sentiments' (1759), and 'An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations' (1776). The latter, usually abbreviated as 'The Wealth of Nations', is considered his magnum opus and the first modern work of economics. Smith is cited as the 'father of modern economics' and is still among the most influential figures in the field of economics today.