The concept of the "invisible hand" guiding market forces towards equilibrium was famously introduced by the economist Adam Smith.
In his seminal work, The Wealth of Nations (1776), Smith described how individual self-interest, operating within a free market, unintentionally promotes the broader economic well-being of society. This mechanism, the "invisible hand," suggests that without central planning, the pursuit of personal gain by producers and consumers leads to the efficient allocation of resources and the achievement of market equilibrium – where supply meets demand.
Therefore, Adam Smith is the economist credited with articulating this influential idea.