Political economist. Born in London to a family of wealthy Sephardic Jews, his marriage to a Quaker led to a breach with his family. Before he was 25, Ricardo had made a fortune in the stock market. Principles of Political Economy and Taxation, published in 1817, won him immediate fame. The following year, in 1818, Ricardo was elected to Parliament. There, despite his early breach with Jewish life, he spoke in favor of political emancipation for Jews.