Jeremy Bentham, 1748-1832, was a British jurist, philosopher and economist and he is also considered as a spiritual founder of the University College London. Bentham was tutor to John Stuart Mill as a personal favour to his father, economist John Mill, who was Bentham’s friend. He had a great influence on the economic theory of the 19th century and also on early marginalism. Bentham however, was more successful in France than in England, thanks to the work of his disciple Ettiene Dumont, who did most of his editing in French.
Bentham´s work is based on the main idea of promoting those laws that will ensure the greatest happiness. In his first published work, “A Fragment on Government”, 1776, he states that the fundamental axiom is “the greatest good for the greatest number” an idea that was not completely original but that was named after him and ever since is known as the utility principle. His idea on this principle, was further developed in many of his works, “Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation” 1780, stands out and become father to this principle.