HUTCHESON, FRANCIS, an ingenious philosopher and elegant writer, was the son of a dissenting minister in the north of Ireland, and was born on the 8th of August, 1694. From his childhood he discovered a superior capacity, and an ardent thirst after knowledge ; and having received the usual elementary instruction at a grammar-school, he was sent to an academy to begin his course of philosophy. In the year 1710, he was entered a student in the university of Glasgow ; where he renewed his application to the study of the Latin and Greek languages, and explored every province of literature ; but devoted himself chiefly to di vinity, which he proposed to make the- peculiar study and profession of his life.
After spending six years at Glasgow, lie returned to his native country ; and having entered into the ministry, he was just about to be settled in a small congregation of Dis senters in the north of Ireland, when some gentlemen about Dublin, who were acquainted with his great talents and virtues, invited him to undertake the charge of a private academy in that city. With this invitation he complied ; and he had resided but a short time in Dublin, when his talents and accomplishments attracted general notice, and procured him the acquaintance of persons of all ranks, who had any taste for literature. Lord Molesworth is said to have taken great delight in his conversation, and to have assisted him with his criticisms and observations upon his Enquiry into the Ideas of Beauty and Virtue, before it was committed to the press. He experienced the same favour from Dr Synge, Bishop of Elphin, with whom lie cultivated an intimate friendship. The first edition of the work to which we have just alluded, was published anonymously ; but its great merit did not allow the author to remain long concealed. Lord Granville, who was then lord-lieutenant of Ireland, sent his private secretary to enquire at the book sellers for the author ; and when lie could not learn his name, lie left a letter to be conveyed to him, in conse quence of which he soon became acquainted with his ex cellency, and was ever after treated by him with distin guished marks of familiarity and esteem.
From this period, his acquaintance began to be still more courted by men of distinction, either for station or litera ture, in Ireland. The celebrated Archbishop King held him in great esteem ; and the friendship of that prelate was highly useful in screening him from two attempts which were made to prosecute him, for venturing to take upon himself the education of youth, without having subscribed the ecclesiastical canons, and obtained a regular license from the bishop. He also enjoyed a large share of the esteem of the Primate Boulter; who, through his influ ence, made a donation to the university of Glasgow of a yearly fund for an exhibitioner to be bred to any of the learned professions.
In the year 1728, Mr Hutchinson published his Treatise on the Passions ; and about the same time lie wrote some philosophical papers, inserted in the collection called Hi bernicus's Letters, in which he accounted for laughter in a manner different from the theory of Hobbes, and more ho nourable to human nature. Some letters having appeared in the a London Journal, 1728," subscribed Philaretus, con taining objections to some parts of the doctrine contained in the Enquiry, he was induced to give answers to them in those public papers. Both the letters and answers were afterwards published in a separate pamphlet.
After he had conducted his private academy at Dublin for several years with great reputation and success, he was invited to Scotland in 1729, to fill the chair of moral philo sophy in the University of Glasgow. In this situation he spent the remainder of his life, in a manner highly honour able to himself, and useful to the university of which he was a member. About this time, the degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred upon him. A firm constitution, and a pretty uniform state of good health, with the exception of some slight attacks of the gout, seemed to promise his friends a long enjoyment of-his valuable life ; which, how ever, was terminated by a sudden attack, in the year 1747, when lie had only attained the age of 53.
He was married, soon after his settlement in Dublin, to Mrs Mary Wilson, the daughter of a gentleman in the county of Longford ; by whom he left one son, Francis, Hutcheson, M. D. who published from the original MS. of his father, System of Moral Philosophy, Glasgow, 1755, 2 vols. 4to.
Dr Hutcheson was a man of considerable learning, and various acquirements. He was not only acquainted with those subjects most intimately connected with his profes sion, but was also well versed in mathematics and natural philosophy. His works have been frequently reprinted, and have been universally admired, both for the sentiments and language, even by those who have not assented to the author's principles. He belonged to that class of philoso phers, who deduce all our notions of right or wrong fiom a moral sense or faculty implanted in our constitution, which leads us to perform good actions ourselves, and to approve of them when performed by others, independently of any reasoning with regard to their utility or fitness. Ile was a decided antagonist of the doctrines of Hobbes ; en tertaining high notions of the dignity of human nature, and being persuaded that, even in this corrupt state, it is capable of great improvement, by proper instruction and assiduous culture. See Dr Leichman's ilccount of the Life, Writings, and Character of Dr Hutcheson, prefixed to the System of Moral Philosophy ; and the Gen. Biog. Diet. (:-.)