Adam Shortt

Who was Adam Shortt?

Adam Shortt, CMG FRSC was an economic historian in Ontario. He was the first full-time employed academic in the field at a Canadian university at Queen's University.

While a lecturer at Queen's, he was appointed as the editor of the Journal and is largely credited with moving the paper from a strict focus on campus matters to a more mixed discussion on all university interests, particularly to broaden the readership amongst alumni. He is most well known for his research into the history of Canadian banking and for his association with the National Archives of Canada.

Regarded as the father of professional economics in Canada. Shortt takes more of a historical approach and disregarded economic theory, as he believed that the economic workings of each country depend on its allocation of natural resources, geographic location, and economic specific attributes. He was self-taught, went to Queens University in Kingston, ON and took courses on a wide range of subjects. Shortt goes on to Glasgow for Master's degree in Political economy.

He was created a Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1911. In 1906 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.