Editing Adam Ferguson (section)

==Biography==
Born at [[Logierait]] in [[Atholl]], [[Perthshire]], Scotland, the son of Rev Adam Ferguson, he received his education at Logierait Parish School, [[Perth Grammar School]], and at the [[University of Edinburgh]] and the [[University of St Andrews]] (MA 1742).<ref name="Waterston">{{cite book
 |last1=Waterston
 |first1=Charles D
 |last2=Macmillan Shearer
 |first2=A
 |title=Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783–2002: Biographical Index
 |url=http://www.rse.org.uk/fellowship/fells_indexp1.pdf
 |access-date=29 September 2010
 |volume=I
 |year= 2006
 |publisher=[[The Royal Society of Edinburgh]]
 |location=Edinburgh
 |isbn=978-0902198845
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061004113545/http://www.rse.org.uk/fellowship/fells_indexp1.pdf
 |archive-date=4 October 2006
}}</ref> In 1745, owing to his knowledge of [[Scottish Gaelic language|Gaelic]], he gained appointment as deputy [[chaplain]] of the 43rd (afterwards the 42nd) regiment (the [[Black Watch]]), the licence to preach being granted him by special dispensation, although he had not completed the required six years of [[theology|theological]] study.<ref>Blaikie, Andrew (2013), ''The Scots Imagination and Modern Memory'', [[Edinburgh University Press]], p. 35, {{isbn|9780748617876}}</ref>

It remains a matter of debate as to whether, at the [[Battle of Fontenoy]] (1745), Ferguson fought in the ranks throughout the day, and refused to leave the field, though ordered to do so by his colonel. Nevertheless, he certainly did well, becoming principal chaplain in 1746. He continued attached to the regiment till 1754, when, disappointed at not obtaining a living, he left the clergy and resolved to devote himself to literary pursuits.

After residing in [[Leipzig]] for a time, he returned to [[Edinburgh]] where in January 1757 he succeeded [[David Hume]] as librarian to the [[Faculty of Advocates]] (see [[Advocates' Library]]), but soon relinquished this office on becoming tutor in the family of the [[Earl of Bute]].<ref name="Essay95">{{cite book|last=Adam|first=Ferguson|editor=Fania Oz-Saltberger|title=An Essay on the History of Civil Society|url=https://archive.org/details/anessayonhistor00ferggoog|year=1995|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=0521447364}}</ref>{{rp|xvi}} In 1759 Ferguson became professor of [[natural philosophy]] in the [[University of Edinburgh]], and in 1764 transferred to the chair of "pneumatics" ([[mental philosophy]]) and [[moral philosophy]].

In 1767, he published his ''[[Essay on the History of Civil Society]]'', which was well received and translated into several [[European languages]]. In the mid-1770s he travelled again to the [[European mainland|Continent]] and met [[Voltaire]]. His membership of [[The Poker Club]] is recorded in its minute book of 1776.

In 1776, appeared his anonymous pamphlet on the [[American Revolution]] in opposition to Dr [[Richard Price]]'s ''[[Observations on the Nature of Civil Liberty]]'', in which he sympathised with the views of the [[British legislature]]. In 1778 Ferguson was appointed secretary to the [[Carlisle Peace Commission]] which endeavoured, but without success, to negotiate an arrangement with the revolted colonies.

In 1780, he wrote the article "History" for the second edition of [[Encyclopædia Britannica]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/204623/Adam-Ferguson|title = Adam Ferguson &#124; Scottish philosopher|website=Britannica.com| date=16 June 2023 }}</ref> The article is 40 pages long and replaced the article in the first edition, which was only one paragraph.

In 1783, appeared his ''[[History of the Progress and Termination of the Roman Republic]]'', it became very popular and went through several editions. Ferguson believed that the [[history of the Roman Republic]] during the period of their greatness formed a practical illustration of those ethical and political doctrines which he studied especially. The history reads well and impartially, and displays conscientious use of sources. The influence of the author's military experience shows itself in certain portions of the narrative. Tired of teaching, he resigned his professorship in 1785, and devoted himself to the revision of his lectures, which he published (1792) under the title of ''[[Principles of Moral and Political Science]]''.

In his seventieth year, Ferguson, intending to prepare a new edition of the history, visited [[Italy]] and some of the principal cities of Europe, where he was received with honour by [[learned societies]]. From 1795 he resided successively at [[Neidpath Castle]] near [[Peebles]], at Hallyards on [[Manor Water]], and at [[St Andrews]], where he died on 22 February 1816.  He is buried in the churchyard of [[St Andrews Cathedral]], against the east wall. His large mural monument includes a carved profile portrait in marble.