Frank William Taussig Collection (VMF167), 1936-1937 | MSS Manuscripts

Taussig, Frank William (1859-1940)

Frank William Taussig (December 28, 1859 – November 11, 1940) was a U.S. economist and educator. Taussig is credited with creating the foundations of modern trade theory. Born in St. Louis, Taussig’s parents encouraged his literary and musical interests, and he played the violin at an early age. He was educated in the St. Louis public schools and at Smith Academy. He then went to Washington University there, but after a year transferred to Harvard from where he graduated in 1879. He then traveled in Europe for a year, taking some time to study economics at the University of Berlin. He then did graduate work at Harvard in law and economics, and during this time was secretary to President Charles W. Eliot for some years. He got a law degree in 1886 and was appointed assistant professor at Harvard. He became professor of economics in 1892, and remained at Harvard for the balance of his professional career, except for several years spent in federal service, and some time spent traveling in Europe recovering from a nervous disorder.

He was editor of the Quarterly Journal of Economics from 1889 to 1890 and from 1896 to 1935; president of the American Economic Association in 1904 and 1905; and chairperson of the United States Tariff Commission from 1917 to 1919. In March 1919, he was called to Paris to advise in the adjustment of commercial treaties, and in November, on invitation of President Wilson, he attended the second industrial conference in Washington for promoting peace between capital and labor.