Stewart, Dugald

Stewart, Dugald, an eminent philosopher and writer was born in Edinburgh Nov. 22, 1753, and was the son of the professor of mathematics. He was educated at tie high school and university of his native city, and attended the lectures of Dr. Reid of Glasgow. From Glasgow he was recalled, in his nineteenth year, to assist his father; on whose decease, in 1785, he succeeded to the professorship. He, however, exchanged it for the chair of moral philosophy, which he had filled in 1778; during the absence of Dr. Ferguson in America. In 1780 he began to receive pupils into his house, and many young noblemen and gentlemen who afterwards became celebrated imbibed their knowledge under his roof. It was not till 1792 that he came forward as an author. He then published the first volume of the Philosophy of the Human Mind. He died June 11, 1828, after having long enjoyed the reputation of being one of the most amiable of men, and one of the ablest of modern philosophical writers. As a writer of the English language; as a public speaker; as an original, a profound, and a cautious thinker; as an expounder of truth; as an instructor of youth; as an elegant scholar; as an accomplished gentleman; in the exemplary discharge of the social duties; in uncompromising consistency and rectitude of principle; in unbending independence; in the warmth and tenderness of his domestic affections; in sincere and unostentatious piety; in the purity and innocence of his life few have excelled him; and, take him for all in all, it will be difficult to find a man who, to so many of the perfections, has added so few of the imperfections, of human nature. Stewart's publications are as follows: Elements of the Philosophy of the Human Mind (vol. 1, 1792; vol. 2, 1814, Edinb. and Lond. 4to): — Outlines of Moral Philosophy (Edinb. 1793, 8vo): — Life and Writings of Wm. Robertson D.D. (1801, 8vo): — Life and Writings of Thomas Reid, D.D. (ibid. 1803, 8vo): — Philosophical Essays (1810, 4to):--Philosophy of the Active and Moral Powers of Man (ibid. 1828, 2 vols. 8vo). Most of his works have been translated into other languages, and passed through several editions. For a fuller account of them, see Allibone, Dict. of Brit. and Amer. Authors, s.v.