, professor of moral philosophy in the university of Glasgow, the eldest
, professor of moral philosophy in the university of Glasgow, the eldest son of
Andrew Arthur, a farmer, was born at Abbots- Inch, in
the shire of Renfrew, Sept. 6, 1744. After being educated in the elements of knowledge and piety by his
parents, he was, at the age of eight, placed at the grammar-school of Paisley, where he was taught Latin. In his
thirteenth or fourteenth year, he was removed to the university of Glasgow, where his uncommon proficiency was
soon noticed and encouraged by his teachers, who discerned a brilliancy of genius and strength of understanding
which were concealed from more superficial observers by
an almost invincible bashful ness, and hesitation in his
speech, from which he never was altogether free. After
having gone through the usual course of classical studies
with increasing reputation, he determined on the clerical
profession, and with that view attended the philosophical
and theological lectures. Such was the intenseness of his
application, and the vigour of his intellect, that, we are
told, long before his nomination to an academical chair,
there were few or no departments, whether literary, philosophical, or theological, with the exception of the medical school only, in which he could not have been an
eminent teacher. On one occasion, during the necessaryabsence of the professor of Church History, he lectured
for a whole session of college in that department, highly
to the satisfaction and improvement of his hearers, which
many of them acknowledged at a distant period when their
own researches rendered such an opinion valuable. He
was also, during the period of his academical studies,
employed as private tutor in some families “of rank. In
October 1767, after the usual trials, according to the
forms of the church of Scotland, he was licensed to be a
preacher, although not without some opposition, owing to
his reluctance to embrace the creed of that church in
its full extent.Soon after he was appointed chaplain to
the university of Glasgow, and assistant to the rev. Dr.
Craig, one of the clergy of Glasgow. About the same
time he was appointed librarian to the university, in which
office he compiled the catalogue of that library on the
model of that of the Advocates’ library in Edinburgh.
In 1780 he was appointed assistant and successor to the
learned and venerable Dr. Reid, professor of moral philospphy, and delivered a course of lectures, of the merit of
Which a judgment may be formed from the parts now published. In sentiments he nearly coincided with his colleague
and predecessor. He taught this class for fifteen years, as
assistant to Dr. Reid, who died in 1796, when he Succeeded as professor, but held this situation for only one
session. A dropsical disorder appeared in his habit soon
after the commencement of 1797, and proved fatal, June
14 of that year. In 1803, professor Richardson, of the
same university, published some part of Mr. Arthur’s lectures, under the title of
” Discourses on Theological and
Literary Subjects," 8vo, with an elegant sketch of his life
and character, from which the above particulars have been
borrowed. These discourses amply justify the eulogium
Mr. Richardson has pronounced on him, as a man of just
taste, and correct in his moral and religious principles,
nor were his talents and temper less admired in private
life.
took his degrees, and was ordained minister at Monimail in Fifcshire. In 1722 he was promoted to be professor of moral philosophy in the university of Glasgow; and for the
was born at Glasgow in 1682, and educated in the university of that city,
where he took his degrees, and was ordained minister at
Monimail in Fifcshire. In 1722 he was promoted to be
professor of moral philosophy in the university of Glasgow;
and for the use of his students wrote some learned notes
on “PufYendorfi de officiis hominis.
” He intended to
have published a system of moral philosophy on a new
plan, but did not live to see it completed, as he died at
Glasgow in 1738, aged 56. His son Frederick Carmichael was born at Monimail i<i 1708. He received his
education in the Marischal college, Aberdeen, where he
took his degrees, and was ordained minister at Monimail
in 1737, on the presentation of the earl of Leven. In
1743 he was translated to Inveresk; and in 1747 he was
elected one of the ministers of Edinburgh, having previously declined an offer made him of the divinity chair in
the Marischal college, Aberdeen. In 1751 he was seized i
with a fever, which put an end to his life, aged 45. He
has left one volume of sermons, which in justness of sentiment and elegance of expression are equal to the best discourses in the English language.