John Millar

Born in Lanarkshire in 1735, John Millar studied at the University of Glasgow and was deeply influenced by Adam Smith, whose lectures he attended as a young student. In 1761 he became Professor of Civil Law at Glasgow, a post he held for about forty years, earning a reputation as an admired teacher and an active participant in the city’s intellectual life.

Millar is best known for The Origin of the Distinction of Ranks (1771), a work that examined how social hierarchy develops as societies change. He also wrote An Historical View of the English Government (1787), using history to trace the growth of political institutions and liberty. His work stands out for bringing together law, history, economics, and social observation in a clear, ambitious way.

He was part of the wider Scottish Enlightenment world that included thinkers such as Adam Smith and David Hume, and he was known for his strong interest in civil liberty and opposition to slavery. Millar died in 1801, but his writing remains important for readers interested in the early roots of sociology, political theory, and historical analysis.