David Hume

7 May 1711 – 25 August 1776

David Hume (1711-1776) was a Scottish Enlightenment philosopher, historian, and essayist, celebrated for his empiricism and skepticism. His A Treatise of Human Nature and later Enquiries reshaped philosophy's treatment of causation, induction, and the self. His six-volume History of England made him famous and wealthy in his own lifetime.

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Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with David Hume.

Life events

Born in Edinburgh, Scotland
7 May 1711

David Hume was born on 7 May 1711 (New Style) in Edinburgh to a modest gentry family from the Scottish Borders.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Entered the University of Edinburgh at an unusually early age
c. 1723

Hume matriculated at Edinburgh around age 12, studying Latin, Greek, and natural philosophy, but left without taking a degree.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Moved to La Fleche, France, to write his first book
1734 – 1737

From 1734 to 1737 Hume lived frugally in France, mostly at La Fleche, composing A Treatise of Human Nature.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Published A Treatise of Human Nature
1739 – 1740

Hume's foundational work of empiricist philosophy appeared in 1739-1740 but, in his words, 'fell dead-born from the press.'

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Published An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding
1748

The 1748 Enquiry recast the Treatise's central arguments, including Hume's celebrated analyses of causation and miracles.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Appointed Keeper of the Advocates Library in Edinburgh
1752

The 1752 librarianship gave Hume access to the research materials he used for his History of England.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Published The History of England in six volumes
1754 – 1762

Issued between 1754 and 1762, Hume's History became a bestseller and the standard account of English history for decades.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Served as secretary to the British embassy in Paris
1763 – 1765

From 1763 to 1765 Hume worked at the Paris embassy, where he was lionized by French salon society and befriended Rousseau.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Served as Under-Secretary of State for the Northern Department
1767 – 1768

Hume held the government post in London from 1767 to 1768 before retiring permanently to Edinburgh.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Died in Edinburgh
25 August 1776

Hume died of an abdominal illness, probably intestinal cancer, facing death with a composure that impressed contemporaries; his Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion appeared posthumously.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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