Anders Chydenius

Anders Chydenius (1729–1803), the vicar of Kokkola, was one of the earliest advocates of liberalism and democracy in Finland and the whole Europe. He is known particularly as a pioneering advocate of the liberty of trades, but he also defended the freedom of expression and religion as well as workers’ rights.

Chydenius’ major political achievements included obtaining shipping rights to the Ostrobothnian towns and expanding the freedom of printing.

His most famous writing is “Den Nationnale Winsten” (1765), where he presented basic ideas of economic liberalism, much alike with his contemporary Adam Smith.

Selected works of Anders Chydenius

More about Chydenius: anders.chydenius.fi/en/