William Blackstone

William Blackstone was an 18th-century legal scholar whose work significantly shaped the understanding of law and sovereignty. He argued that sovereignty lies with the law itself rather than individual rulers. Blackstone's influential writings consolidated English common law principles, stressing that laws should be based on reason and natural rights. He emphasized that the authority of the state must respect individual liberties. His ideas have had a lasting impact on legal systems, particularly in the United States, where the rule of law and the protection of individual rights are fundamental principles of governance.