When I started this paper, I had a four-part thesis, which I since have had to amend significantly. The thesis was: first, that Robert Joseph Pothier\u27s writings had an enormous influence on the development of the Common Law of contract. Second, that his influence in England was mediated by decisions made and treatises written in the United States. Third, that his role was to pass on the wisdom of ancient Rome to the Anglo-American system. And fourth, that his influence was largely unknown. I have discovered that the first part of this thesis was not only correct, but that his influence was greater than I had imagined
