Difference between revisions of "William Cleghorn (1718-1754)"

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[[File:IMG 1474.JPG | border | 300 px | right | thumb | Students notes of lectures in Moral Philosophy by William Cleghorn (1718-1754), taken down 1746-1747, [[Library|Edinburgh University Library]] (Dc.3.3-6)]]'''William Cleghorn (1718-1754)''' was Professor of [[Moral Philosophy]] at Edinburgh University from 1745 to 1754.
  
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'''William Cleghorn (1718-1754)''' was Professor of [[Moral Philosophy]] at Edinburgh University from 1745 to 1754.
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== Early life ==
  
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Early life
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Relatively little is known of the early life of William Cleghorn. The son of a brewer and burgess of Edinburgh, he graduated MA from Edinburgh University in 1739. He must also have attended Divinity classes, for he was licensed to preach but never held a church appointment. In 1739-1740, Cleghorn was employed as a private tutor to Sir Henry Nisbet of Dean, but returned to Edinburgh University in 1742 as a deputy for [[Sir John Pringle (1707-1782)]], Professor of Moral Philosophy.
  
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Cleghorn was the son of a brewer and burgess of Edinburgh. He graduated MA from Edinburgh University in 1739 and must also have attended Divinity classes. He was licensed to preach but never held a church appointment. In 1739-1740, Cleghorn was employed as a private tutor to Sir Henry Nisbet of Dean.
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== Cleghorn and Edinburgh University ==
  
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Cleghorn and Edinburgh University
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Pringle was absent on war service, working as a military surgeon to the British Army who were then engaged in Flanders (as part of the War of Austrian Succession). Cleghorn was one of several deputies appointed by the [[Senatus Academicus]] to conduct Pringle's classes before he was finally induced to resign the chair in 1745. The [[Town Council]] was keen to raise the standing of the vacant post and initially offered it to Francis Hutcheson (1694-1746), Professor of Moral Philosophy at Glasgow University and founder of the Scottish school of philosophy. Hutcheson declined, and [[David Hume (1711-1776)]], now widely regarded as Scotland's greatest philosopher, applied in his place. His candidature was controversially blocked by the clergy of Edinburgh who suspected Hume of being both an atheist and sympathetic to Jacobitism. Cleghorn,a committed Whig and staunch Presbyterian, proved a more acceptable choice.
  
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In 1742, [[Sir John Pringle (1707-1782)]], Professor of Moral Philosophy, was absent on war service, working as a military surgeon in Flanders. The [[Senatus]] of the the University appointed several deputies to conduct his classes including Cleghorn. Pringle was finally induced to resign his post in 1745, and Cleghorn was controversially appointed to the Chair , after the Edinburgh clergy blocked the candidature of his main rival, David Hume (1711-1776). Hume, now widely regarded as Scotland's greatest philosopher, was suspected of being an atheist and of being sympathetic to Jacobitism. A committed Whig and staunch Presbyterian, Cleghorn, proved a more acceptable appointee.
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Cleghorn was appointed on 5 June 1745 and soon had the opportunity to demonstrate his political and religious zeal. As Charles Edward Stuart's Jacobite army approached Edinburgh in September 1745, a College Company of Volunteers was formed to help defend the city. Along with his friends [[William Robertson (1721-1793)]] (future [[Principal]] of the University), [[Alexander Carlyle (1722-1805)]], and [[John Home (1722-1808)]], Cleghorn was one of its most ardent members. When it became apparent that Edinburgh would capitulate, he urged the volunteers to join the British army which had landed at Dunbar. With Carlyle and Robertson, he made his way to Dunbar to offer his services to General Sir John Cope. The student volunteers were employed as scouts in the build-up to the Battle of Prestonpans (21 September 1745), which ended in an ignominious defeat for the government forces. Cleghorn was also a member of the Revolution Club, dedicated to protecting the Protestant and anti-Absolutist principles of 'Glorious Revolution' of 1688. See [[The University and the '45]] for more details.
  
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Cleghorn was appointed on 5 June 1745 and provided ample evidence of his political and religious zeal even before delivering his first lecture. As Charles Edward Stuart's Jacobite army approached Edinburgh in September 1745, a College Company of Volunteers was formed to help defend the city. Along with his friends [[William Robertson (1721-1793)]] (future [[Principal]] of the University), [[Alexander Carlyle (1722-1805)]], and [[John Home (1722-1808)]], was one of its most ardent members. When it became apparent that Edinburgh would capitulate, he urged the volunteers to join the British army which had landed at Dunbar. With Carlyle and Robertson, he made his way to Dunbar to offer his services to General Sir John Cope. The student volunteers were employed as scouts in the build-up to the Battle of Prestonpans, which ended in an ignominious defeat for the government forces. Cleghorn was also a member of the Revolution Club, dedicated to protecting the Protestant and anti-Absolutist principles of 'Glorious Revolution' of 1688.
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== Cleghorn's Philosophy ==
  
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Cleghorn held the moral philosophy chair for the remainder of his short life. He seems to have spent all his time in Edinburgh, apart from a brief visit to Huntingdon in 1750 and a possible tour of the highlands with Adam Ferguson. He never made any published contribution to moral philosophy, but a large collection of student lecture notes is preserved in Edinburgh University Library. Examination of these notes by modern scholars suggests that his political opinions inclined to classical republicanism and the views of Machiavelli, Harrington, and Algernon Sidney. He was a confirmed opponent of monarchical absolutism and despotism, and may have preferred republicanism to monarchy as a form of government (Nobbs, 584, 586). His general view of moral philosophy also appears to have been heavily influenced by the thought of Cicero, particularly as expressed in De officiis (Stewart-Robertson, 33–4). Although not a major figure in eighteenth-century Scottish political and philosophical thought, Cleghorn apparently influenced no less a figure than Ferguson, who was commended by Cleghorn on his deathbed and who later held the moral philosophy chair. In 1754 Cleghorn's declining health led him to visit Lisbon, but he was soon back in Scotland. His condition led him to resign his chair on 21 August 1754, and he died at Edinburgh, apparently unmarried, two days later, at the age of thirty-six.
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Cleghorn held the Chair of Moral Philosophy for the rest of his life. He published no philosophical works, but student lecture notes held by Edinburgh University Library suggest that his thought was essentially Ciceronian. The notes also reveal a passionate opposition to absolutism and despotism, and a possible leaning towards republicanism. Although not a major figure, Cleghorn has perhaps been unfairly belittled by commentators who have ridiculed his credentials for the chair when compared to Hume. As significant a thinker as [[Adam Ferguson (1723-1816)]] acknowledged Cleghorn's influence. Cleghorn's early death at the age of thirty-six may also have prevented him from making a major written contribution to moral philosophy.
  
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While abroad, Pringle's classes had been taken by William Cleghorn. However, wishing to raise the vacant Chair of Moral Philosophy, Edinburgh's Town Council offered the professorship to Dr. Francis Hutcheson (1694-1746), Professor of Moral Philosophy at Glasgow University and founder of the Scottish school of philosophy, rather than offer it to Cleghorn. Hutcheson declined, and [[David Hume (1711-1776)]] offered himself for the vacancy. Rather than give the Chair to Hume who was 'deemed a Jacobite' and whose 'philosophical opinions were a bar to his appointment', Cleghorn was elected to the Chair of Pneumatics and Moral Philosophy on 5 June 1745 (Pneumatics - 'the being and perfections of the one true God, the nature of the Angels and the soul of man, and the duties of natural religion').
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== Archives ==
  
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Professor William Cleghorn died in 1754.
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*[[Lectures of Professor William Cleghorn]]
  
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[[Category:Academics|Cleghorn, William]]
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== Links ==
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*[[David Hume's Failed Application for Chair of Moral Philosophy, 1745]]
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*[[The University and the '45]]
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== Sources ==
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*[[Alexander Carlyle (1722-1805)|Alexander Carlyle]], ''Autobiography of the Rev. Dr. Alexander Carlyle, Minister of Inveresk: Containing Memorials of the Men and Events of his Time'' (Edinburgh: W. Blackwood, 1860)
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*[[Andrew Dalzel]], ''History of the University of Edinburgh from its Foundation'', 2 vols (Edinburgh: Edmonston and Douglas, 1862)
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*Alexander Du Toit, 'Cleghorn, William (1718–1754)', ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004)[[http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/63629], accessed 23 June 2014]
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*[[Sir Alexander Grant]], ''The Story of the University of Edinburgh during its First Three Hundred Years'', 2 vols (London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1884)
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*[[John Home (1722-1808)|John Home]], ''The History of the Rebellion in the Year 1745'' (London: T. Cadell, Jun. and W. Davies, 1802)
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[[Category:Academics|Cleghorn, William]][[Category:Alumni|Cleghorn, William]]

Latest revision as of 13:57, 17 February 2015

Students notes of lectures in Moral Philosophy by William Cleghorn (1718-1754), taken down 1746-1747, Edinburgh University Library (Dc.3.3-6)

William Cleghorn (1718-1754) was Professor of Moral Philosophy at Edinburgh University from 1745 to 1754.

Early life

Relatively little is known of the early life of William Cleghorn. The son of a brewer and burgess of Edinburgh, he graduated MA from Edinburgh University in 1739. He must also have attended Divinity classes, for he was licensed to preach but never held a church appointment. In 1739-1740, Cleghorn was employed as a private tutor to Sir Henry Nisbet of Dean, but returned to Edinburgh University in 1742 as a deputy for Sir John Pringle (1707-1782), Professor of Moral Philosophy.

Cleghorn and Edinburgh University

Pringle was absent on war service, working as a military surgeon to the British Army who were then engaged in Flanders (as part of the War of Austrian Succession). Cleghorn was one of several deputies appointed by the Senatus Academicus to conduct Pringle's classes before he was finally induced to resign the chair in 1745. The Town Council was keen to raise the standing of the vacant post and initially offered it to Francis Hutcheson (1694-1746), Professor of Moral Philosophy at Glasgow University and founder of the Scottish school of philosophy. Hutcheson declined, and David Hume (1711-1776), now widely regarded as Scotland's greatest philosopher, applied in his place. His candidature was controversially blocked by the clergy of Edinburgh who suspected Hume of being both an atheist and sympathetic to Jacobitism. Cleghorn,a committed Whig and staunch Presbyterian, proved a more acceptable choice.

Cleghorn was appointed on 5 June 1745 and soon had the opportunity to demonstrate his political and religious zeal. As Charles Edward Stuart's Jacobite army approached Edinburgh in September 1745, a College Company of Volunteers was formed to help defend the city. Along with his friends William Robertson (1721-1793) (future Principal of the University), Alexander Carlyle (1722-1805), and John Home (1722-1808), Cleghorn was one of its most ardent members. When it became apparent that Edinburgh would capitulate, he urged the volunteers to join the British army which had landed at Dunbar. With Carlyle and Robertson, he made his way to Dunbar to offer his services to General Sir John Cope. The student volunteers were employed as scouts in the build-up to the Battle of Prestonpans (21 September 1745), which ended in an ignominious defeat for the government forces. Cleghorn was also a member of the Revolution Club, dedicated to protecting the Protestant and anti-Absolutist principles of 'Glorious Revolution' of 1688. See The University and the '45 for more details.

Cleghorn's Philosophy

Cleghorn held the Chair of Moral Philosophy for the rest of his life. He published no philosophical works, but student lecture notes held by Edinburgh University Library suggest that his thought was essentially Ciceronian. The notes also reveal a passionate opposition to absolutism and despotism, and a possible leaning towards republicanism. Although not a major figure, Cleghorn has perhaps been unfairly belittled by commentators who have ridiculed his credentials for the chair when compared to Hume. As significant a thinker as Adam Ferguson (1723-1816) acknowledged Cleghorn's influence. Cleghorn's early death at the age of thirty-six may also have prevented him from making a major written contribution to moral philosophy.

Archives

Links

Sources

  • Alexander Carlyle, Autobiography of the Rev. Dr. Alexander Carlyle, Minister of Inveresk: Containing Memorials of the Men and Events of his Time (Edinburgh: W. Blackwood, 1860)
  • Andrew Dalzel, History of the University of Edinburgh from its Foundation, 2 vols (Edinburgh: Edmonston and Douglas, 1862)
  • Alexander Du Toit, 'Cleghorn, William (1718–1754)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004)[[1], accessed 23 June 2014]
  • Sir Alexander Grant, The Story of the University of Edinburgh during its First Three Hundred Years, 2 vols (London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1884)
  • John Home, The History of the Rebellion in the Year 1745 (London: T. Cadell, Jun. and W. Davies, 1802)
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