James Beattie (1735 - 1803)

James Beattie FRSE (25 October 1735 – 18 August 1803) was a Scottish poet, moralist and philosopher. The two works which brought him most fame were: 1. His Essay on the Nature and Immutability of Truth, intended as an answer to David Hume, which had great immediate success, and led to an introduction to the King, a pension of £200, and the degree of LL.D. from Oxford; and 2. His poem of The Minstrel, of which the first book was published in 1771 and the second in 1774, and which constitutes his true title to remembrance, winning him the praise of Samuel Johnson. It contains much beautiful descriptive writing. Beattie was prominent in arguing against the institution of slavery, notably in his Essay on the Nature and Immutability of Truth (1770) and Elements of Moral Science.