Blair, Hugh, 1718-1800 (Church of Scotland Minister, Professor of Rhetoric)

Person

Staff Only

Biography

Hugh Blair (1718-1800) was created Regius Professor of Rhetoric and Belles Lettres in 1762, holding the post until 1784. His appointment marked the beginning of the teaching of English Literature at Edinburgh University and the birth of the oldest English department in the world.

Blair was born in Edinburgh on 7 April 1718. He entered Edinburgh University in 1730, graduating in 1738 or 1739 with the degree of M.A. and writing a thesis entitled "De fundamentis et obligatione legis naturae". In 1741, Blair became licensed to preach and held successively a parish in Fife, Lady Yester's Church in Edinburgh, Canongate Parish in the city, and Edinburgh's St. Giles'. The latter charge was given in June 1758 and he held it until his death in 1800.

In 1759 Blair started giving lectures on composition at Edinburgh University and in 1760 he was made Professor of Rhetoric, an appointment which was transferred to the Professorship of Rhetoric and Belles-Lettres in June 1762.

Blair was part of Edinburgh's distinguished literary circle of the day, and was a contemporary of David Hume (1711-1776), Adam Ferguson (1723-1816), and Adam Smith (1723-1790). Blair championed the publishing of the Ossian fragments by James Macpherson (1736-1796). His own lectures and sermons were translated and read widely abroad.

Source: Hugh Blair (1718-1800) (2015), https://ourhistory.is.ed.ac.uk/index.php/Hugh_Blair_(1718-1800) [accessed 30/03/2023]

Found in 4 Collections and/or Records:

Autograph letter signed from William Dickinson to his mother, reporting on his experiences of student life at Edinburgh, 28 November 1765

Item — Box CLX-A-1591

Identifier: Coll-1848/20-0043

Scope and Contents Autograph letter signed from William Dickinson (1745-1806) to his mother, reporting on his experiences of student life at Edinburgh, dated 28 November 1765, Edinburgh. Dickinson starts his letter by stating he is happy to hear about the recovery of his father; he then mentions "the two Gentlemen from Oxford" that came to his house. He is "very well pleased" with being at the University, "for Mr Ferguson (the Moral Philosophy Professor) is very clever and refin'd". He adds that he has had...

Dates: 28 November 1765

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Smaller acquisitions collection

Laureation Degrees (First Laureation Album), 1587-1809

Item — Box EUA IN1/ADS/STA/1/1

Identifier: EUA IN1/ADS/STA/1/1

Scope and Contents This album begins with the text of the 'sponsio' or confession of Faith (sometimes referred to as the National Covenant) of 1580, to which the graduates subscribed, and which continued to be subscribed to by Professors and Students for many years. The entries for laureations (or graduations) begin in August 1587, when Robert Rollock, the first Principal 'did laureat the first classe which had passed under his charge in the Colledge of Edinburgh, after every one of them had subscrybed the...

Dates: 1587-1809

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Records of the University of Edinburgh / Administration and Support Services / Student Administration / Laureation and degrees albums

Letter from Doctor Ignace Luzuriaga to Joseph Black and draft letter from Joseph Black to Doctor Ignace Luzuriaga , 15 June 1787

Item

Identifier: Coll-16/III/29-30

Scope and Contents

Letter from Doctor Ignace Luzuriaga, London to Joseph Black, dated 15 June 1787. The letter is about platina and sending the diploma of membership of the Royal Academy of Madrid. The item contains two draft letters from Joseph Black to Doctor Ignace Luzuriaga, undated in reply. One of the draft replies is written on verso of a note from Professor Hugh Blair to Joseph Black.

Dates: 15 June 1787

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Papers of Joseph Black and family / Correspondence of Joseph Black III

Letter from George Buxton to Joseph Black, 17 November 1788

Item

Identifier: Coll-16/III/114-115

Scope and Contents

Letter from George Buxton, Greenwich to Joseph Black, dated 17 November 1788. The letter is about Buxton urging Black to publish, the King's health, etc. It also mentions Professor Blair.

Dates: 17 November 1788