Best known for his writing on the English common law, William Blackstone penned the four-volume Commentaries on the Laws of England (1765–69), which greatly influenced views of British government and law throughout the world. This legal scholarship came out of his lectures at All Souls College, Oxford University.

Blackstone interprets the English common-law tradition through the parliamentary supremacy view of the glorious revolution of 1688. This posits an ancient constitution of English rights and liberties in Pre-Norman (1066) England that was corrupted by Norman monarchy, feudalism, and Catholic Christianity. In this Whig view, the modern revolution of 1688, which gave supreme power to the republican Parliament, strictlylimited the power of the monarchy, established the Protestant Christian faith, and allowed extensive private property and commerce, was simply a restoration of the ancient liberties in England. This views medieval English common law through the modern liberalism of John Locke. Blackstone discusses English law through the categories of Persons (volume I); Property (volume II); Private Wrongs or torts—civil law (volume III); and Public Wrongs or criminal law (volume IV). The last book also discusses penal law with humane recommendations for reforming the barbaric punishments in England at the time.

Blackstone's writings effectively codified the modern British liberal, natural rights view of English law. He greatly influenced subsequent British politics and law throughout the empire. In the North American colonies, most lawyers read Blackstone and used his ideas on individual rights, republican government, and the ancient constitution in their arguments for American independence during the American Revolution.

Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and other Revolutionary pamphlets, especially employed Blackstone against the British imperial system and policies. Blackstone is still regarded as a classic on English common law.

He was educated at Pembroke College, Oxford, and after teaching at All Souls, Oxford, Blackstone served as a Tory member of Parliament and ended his distinguished career as a British judge. Blackstone's legal philosophy is considered representative of Whig natural-rights liberalism and conservative British constitutionalism.

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