Hume, David (1711-1776)

Philosopher and historian.

Famous as a moral philosopher, although his early philosophical writings, including the Treatise on Human Nature (1739), were poorly received. His History of England (6 vols., 1754-61), was for a time the standard work on that subject.

During his lifetime, Hume was vilified for his religious skepticism, but maintained friendships with such prominent intellectuals as Adam Smith and Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

He presumably met Franklin in the winter of 1758-59 through mutual friend William Strahan. Franklin was a guest in Hume's Edinburgh home (1771).

Born in Edinburgh.