28 moments

1. Birth at Lawnmarket

   1711-05-07 · Lawnmarket, Edinburgh, Scotland

   

   David Hume, born David Home, was born in a tenement on the north side of Edinburgh’s Lawnmarket.

2. Merchant’s trial in Bristol

   1734-01-01 · Bristol, England, Great Britain

   

   Hume made a short-lived attempt to enter commercial life in Bristol before abandoning it for study.

3. Studies in France

   1734-01-01 · France

   

   After leaving Bristol, Hume began the three-year French retreat during which he developed the plan of life and studies that led to A Treatise of Human Nature. The source dates departure to France to 1734 but does not give a date for each French stop; coordinates are a representative point for France.

4. Arrival in London after French retreat

   1737-01-01 · London, England, Great Britain

   

   Hume returned from three years in France to London, where he prepared his Treatise for publication.

5. Return to Ninewells

   1739-01-01 · Ninewells, near Chirnside, Berwickshire, Scotland

   

   After the appearance of the Treatise, Hume returned to the family estate at Ninewells in the Scottish Borders. Coordinates are an approximate representative point for the historic Ninewells estate near Chirnside.

6. Publication of Essays in Edinburgh

   1742-01-01 · Edinburgh, Scotland

   

   While living in the country with his family, Hume was physically in Edinburgh to print the first part of his Essays, Moral and Political. The source supports presence in Edinburgh during 1742 but not a more precise date.

7. Companion to the Marquess of Annandale

   1745-01-01 · Weldhall, near St Albans, Hertfordshire, England, Great Britain

   

   Hume became companion to the Marquess of Annandale and resided with the family at Weldhall near St Albans. Coordinates use St Albans as a representative point because the precise site of Weldhall is uncertain.

8. Raid on Lorient

   1746-09-29 · Lorient, Brittany, France

   

   As secretary to Lieutenant-General James St Clair, Hume accompanied the expedition that besieged Lorient in Brittany. The date marks the opening of the raid; the quoted source establishes Hume accompanied the expedition throughout.

9. Military embassy at Turin

   1747-01-01 · Turin, Kingdom of Sardinia

   

   Hume was introduced as aide-de-camp to James St Clair at the court of Turin during the same diplomatic mission. The source gives the year of the mission but does not date the separate Vienna and Turin appearances more precisely.

10. Military embassy at Vienna

    1747-01-01 · Vienna, Habsburg Monarchy

    

    Hume served as James St Clair’s secretary and aide-de-camp during the military embassy received at the court of Vienna. The source gives the year of the mission but does not date the separate Vienna and Turin appearances more precisely.

11. Return to Ninewells

    1749-01-01 · Ninewells, near Chirnside, Berwickshire, Scotland

    After returning from Italy, Hume resumed a productive period of study and writing at the Ninewells estate. Coordinates are an approximate representative point for the historic Ninewells estate near Chirnside.

12. Residence at Riddles Court

    1751-01-01 · Riddles Court, Lawnmarket, Edinburgh, Scotland

    

    Hume moved from the country to Edinburgh and lived at Riddles Court on the Lawnmarket.

13. Move to Jack’s Land

    1753-01-01 · Jack’s Land, Canongate, Edinburgh, Scotland

    

    Hume moved to Jack’s Land in the Canongate, where he lived while undertaking much of his historical writing.

14. Move to James Court

    1762-01-01 · James Court, Lawnmarket, Edinburgh, Scotland

    

    Hume left Jack’s Land and moved to James Court on the Lawnmarket.

15. Embassy service in Paris

    1763-01-01 · Paris, France

    

    Hume began attending Lord Hertford in Paris and became secretary to the British embassy in France. Coordinates represent Paris rather than an embassy building.

16. Letter from Fontainebleau

    1763-10-27 · Fontainebleau, France

    

    A surviving Hume letter is catalogued as written from Fontainebleau to the Earl of Halifax during his French embassy service. The source spells the place “Fountainebleau”; the modern gazetteer spelling is Fontainebleau.

17. Chargé d’affaires in Paris

    1765-01-01 · Paris, France

    

    After Lord Hertford’s departure, Hume served as chargé d’affaires in Paris until the Duke of Richmond arrived later that year. Coordinates represent Paris rather than an embassy building.

18. Letter from London

    1766-02-02 · London, England, Great Britain

    

    After leaving Paris, Hume was in London, from where he wrote on behalf of associates connected with a Grenada plantation proposal. The quotation is from Victor-Thérèse Charpentier’s 20 June 1766 reply to Hume and identifies Hume’s letter as written from London on 2 February 1766.

19. Letter from Edinburgh

    1766-11-05 · Edinburgh, Scotland

    

    A surviving letter shows Hume back in Edinburgh by early November after his return from France and England.

20. Under-secretary in London

    1767-01-01 · London, England, Great Britain

    

    Hume entered General Conway’s service in London as an under-secretary of state. The source supports the year but not a more precise start date.

21. Return to Edinburgh

    1769-01-01 · Edinburgh, Scotland

    

    Hume returned to Edinburgh after his London government service, resuming the settled later phase of his life.

22. Letter from St Andrew Square

    1771-05-12 · St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, Scotland

    

    A surviving letter dates Hume’s presence at St Andrew Square, the New Town residence in which he spent his final years. The source’s “St. Andrews Square” refers to St Andrew Square, Edinburgh.

23. Last journey: Morpeth

    1776-04-23 · Morpeth, Northumberland, England, Great Britain

    

    During his final attempt to improve his health through travel, Hume wrote to his brother from Morpeth en route south. The quoted dateline is from Hume’s letter to his brother John Home.

24. Last journey: London

    1776-05-02 · London, England, Great Britain

    

    Hume’s correspondence records him in London during the final health journey that took him south from Edinburgh.

25. Last journey: Bath

    1776-05-13 · Bath, Somerset, England, Great Britain

    

    Hume travelled to Bath to drink the waters on medical advice during his final illness.

26. Return from Bath to Edinburgh

    1776-07-10 · Edinburgh, Scotland

    

    Hume had returned to Edinburgh after the unsuccessful Bath treatment, as shown by a letter written there to his brother.

27. Final letter from Edinburgh

    1776-08-23 · Edinburgh, Scotland

    

    Two days before his death, Hume wrote to Adam Smith from Edinburgh, explaining that he was too weak to rise. The quoted dateline introduces Hume’s letter to Adam Smith.

28. Death at St Andrew Square

    1776-08-25 · 21 Saint David Street, Edinburgh, Scotland

    

    Hume died at the southwest corner of St Andrew Square in Edinburgh’s New Town, at the site now numbered 21 Saint David Street. The article’s infobox gives Hume’s date of death as 25 August 1776; the quoted sentence establishes the exact death location.