ASHLEY

ashley, william james (1860- ), english economist, was born in london on the 25th of february 1860. he was educated at st olave's grammar school and balliol college, oxford, and became a fellow of lincoln college. in 1888 he was appointed professor of political economy and constitutional history in toronto university, a post which he resigned in 1892, in order to become professor of economic history at harvard university. in 1901 he was appointed professor of commerce and finance in birmingham university and in 1902 dean of the faculty of commerce. professor ashley became well known for his work on the early history of english industry, and for his prominence among those english economists who supported mr chamberlain's tariff reform movement. his most important works are _early history of the english woollen industry_ (1887); _introduction to english economic history and theory_ (2 parts, 1888-1893); _surveys, historic and economic_ (1900); _adjustment of wages_ (1903); the _tariff problem_ (2nd ed. 1904); _progress of the german working classes_ (1904).