Sir William Blackstone

Sir William Blackstone (1723–1780) was an English jurist, judge, and professor, best known for his Commentaries on the Laws of England, a foundational work in the study of English common law. Published between 1765 and 1769, the Commentaries systematized and explained the principles of English law in a clear, accessible way, greatly influencing legal education and practice in both England and the United States. Blackstone was educated at Oxford and later became a barrister, a judge, and the first Vinerian Professor of Law at Oxford. His work laid the groundwork for legal systems that rely on common law, and his writings continue to be studied by legal scholars and practitioners today.