Adam Ferguson

Adam Ferguson

Profession: Philosopher Historian Talents etc.: Latin, Greek Essay-writing Mathematics (Professional) Role in St Andrews: Student of natural philosophy (taking courses in logic and moral philosophy) Years in St Andrews: 1738-1743

history

1723

fal2@st-andrews.ac.uk

Organisation

194

Adam Ferguson

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Ferguson

TEXT

Q183094

D.O.B: 1723 D.O.D: 1816 Family origins: Father: Adam Fergusson (parish minister) Mother: Mary Fergusson (noble descendance) Education: At home, tutored by his father Parish school, Logierait Grammar school, Perth St Leonard’s College, St Andrews University of Edinburgh (divinity studies)

Involved in which fields of scholarship? (e.g. geology, philosophy and medicine) Philosophy, History

1816

Any political involvement? Hanoverian: sermon to first highland regiment on foot Any religious involvement? Religious career (church), but left service in 1754 Elder of the Church of Scotland in 1760s Other societies/groups elsewhere? Select Society Edinburgh Possible human interest story 1: Fergusson decided to omit the “s” in his name (which became Ferguson) because he believed it was “unnecessary, and therefore unworthy of a philosopher”. Possible human interest story 2: Also military career: appointment as the deputy chaplain of the newly formed 43rd regiment of highlanders 1745 anecdote told by Walter Scott and repeated by Ferguson's biographers: when started military career, young chaplain; leading the column of men at the battle of Fontenoy; Upon hearing his colonel's rebuke to the effect that such behaviour was incompatible with his church commission, he allegedly replied 'D—n my commission!' and threw it towards the speaker (Scott, 19.313). (central to understand how Ferguson was remembered in Scotland: martial spirit and love of valour typified his personality to a greater extent than his clerical calling) Regarded military valour as a corner-stone of civic virtue: impact of his military career Possible human interest story 3: Together with the student he tutored, he lodged at Leipzig at home of the Frenchman Eléazar de Mauvillon, a protestant convert who had translated Hume's Political Discourses into French. Ferguson complained in a letter to Adam Smith of having 'not met with any Glimmering of Taste, or very elegant Reflexions' (Ferguson to Smith, 1 Dec 1754; Correspondence, 1.11). Possible human interest story 4: Apology of theatre: teaches virtue and is found in civilized societies Connected to other people in St Andrews or elsewhere? William Robertson, Alexander Carlyle, Hugh Blair, and John Home circle of students in Edinburgh Robert Adam Awards/Honours: Bursary for study at St Leonard’s College, St Andrews Principal chaplain to Black Watch Biographical sources: (e.g. OxDNB, family memoir, other...) Ferguson to Smith, letters Available images of the person: Portrait special collections, but did not work when I tried