David Ricardo (1772–1823) was a British economist and politician of Portuguese Jewish descent, recognized as one of the most influential classical economists alongside figures like Thomas Malthus, Adam Smith, and James Mill. He was born in London and began working for his father, a stockbroker, at age 14. At 21, he eloped and converted to Unitarianism, leading to estrangement from his family.

Ricardo made a considerable fortune financing government borrowing and through the stock market.