James Esdaile (minister)

James Esdaile (1775–1854) was a Scottish minister and writer who spent his working life mainly at the East Church, Perth, Scotland.

Life

Esdaile began as a tutor in the family of James Christie of Durie. He then studied at the University of St Andrews. He was licensed by the presbytery of Kirkcaldy on 15 June 1803; and was ordained to Montrose, on 14 August 1805. He was admitted as minister in Perth in November 1810.[1]

Esdaile was awarded the degree of D.D. by the University of Edinburgh, 4 January 1838.[2] He resigned his position 15 June 1844; and died 8 January 1854.[1]

Works

Esdaile wrote the prominent article "Logic" in the Edinburgh Encyclopædia, divided as Part I pneumatology, part II dialectics.[3] Here "pneumatology" is what now would be called psychology, and was handled in line with the natural theology of the Enlightenment.[4] It proved a source of controversy[5] with Thomas Brown, whom Esdaile accused of plagiarism, based largely on the use of the term "Relationist".[6] It also gave the author's opinion that Francis Bacon's influence on the advances of two centuries in natural philosophy was largely restricted to chemistry.[7] Esdaile was considered a candidate for the Chair of Moral Philosophy at Edinburgh in 1820, on Brown's death, at least in the eyes of some supporters of the Church of Scotland.[8] In the event John Wilson was elected over the claims of Sir William Hamilton.

Esdaile's theological works were:

Two local controversies generated pamphlet wars:

Family

Esdaile married on 3 December 1805, Margaret Blair (died at Rescobie, Angus, Scotland, 24 May 1843), daughter of David Blair of Borgue. Their children were:[13]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 Hew Scott, Donald Farquhar Macdonald, Fasti ecclesiæ scoticanæ; the succession of ministers in the Church of Scotland from the Reformation vol. 4 (1915) archive.org.
  2. A Catalogue of the Graduates in the Faculties of Arts, Divinity, and Law, Of the University of Edinburgh, Since Its Foundation (1858), p. 251; archive.org.
  3. The Edinburgh Encyclopaedia. W. Blackwood. 1 January 1830. p. 118 via Google Books.
  4. http://fds.oup.com/www.oup.com/pdf/13/9780198122838.pdf
  5. The Edinburgh Magazine and Literary Miscellany. Archibald Constable. 1 January 1820. p. 538 via Google Books.
  6. Remarks on Dr. Brown's Physiology of the Mind (1820)
  7. Hans Aarsleff (1983). The Study of Language in England, 1780-1860. University of Minnesota Press. p. 92 note. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  8. "The life and times of the Rev. Robert Burns, D.D., F.A.S., F.R.S.E. Toronto : including an unfinished autobiography". archive.org.
  9. The United Presbyterian magazine. 1857. p. 89. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  10. Church of Scotland. Presbytery of Perth (1860). The Presbytery of Perth: or, Memoirs of the members, ministers of the several parishes within the bounds, from the Reformation to the present time. Mrs. C. Paton. p. 224. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  11. George Penny (1836). Traditions of Perth, containing sketches of the manners and customs of the inhabitants, and notices of public occurrences, during the last century: interesting extracts from old records; notices of the neighbouring localities of historical interest ... Dewar, Sidey, Morison, Peat, and Drummond. p. 185. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  12. John C. Johnston (1887). Treasury of the Scottish Covenant. Andrew Elliot. p. 182. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 Esdaile Family History per Janet White, descendant
  14. "A history of the Scotch Presbyterian Church, St. Gabriel Street, Montreal [microform]". archive.org.
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