Blackstone (William Blackstone)

William Blackstone was an influential 18th-century legal scholar whose writings, especially "Commentaries on the Laws of England," helped shape the understanding of common law—the body of law developed through court decisions and customs in England. His work organized legal principles, making them more accessible and understandable, and has had a lasting impact on legal systems, particularly in the United States and other common law countries. Blackstone emphasized the importance of individual rights, the rule of law, and the separation of powers, laying foundational ideas for modern legal thought.