Walter Bagehot (1826-1877), was a nineteenth century British economist and author. He wrote for various periodicals, but gained notice as an early editor of The Economist, which had been founded by his father-in-law. After taking over in 1861, he expanded the publication"s reporting on the United States and on politics, and is considered to have increased its influence among policymakers. In 1867, he wrote The English Constitution which explores the constitution, specifically the functioning of Parliament and the British monarchy and the contrasts between British and American government. It remains the best account of the history and working of the British political system. He also wrote Physics and Politics (1872), in which he makes a pioneer analysis of the interrelationship between the natural and the social sciences, and Lombard Street (1873), a valuable financial work.