James Beattie

1735-1803

Appointed Professor of moral philosophy at Aberdeen University in 1760 as a result of the interest of his intimate friend, Robert Arbuthnot of Haddo. His poem of The Minstrel, (1771, 1774) is often seen as the first Romantic poem in English. The Essay, intended as an answer to David Hume, had great immediate success, and led to an introduction to the King, a pension of £200, and the degree of LL.D. from Oxford.