John Hill Burton
John Hill Burton was a prominent Scottish advocate, historian, and economist, known for his significant contributions to the study of Scottish history and philosophy. He gained recognition for his work 'Life and Correspondence of David Hume,' which provided an in-depth exploration of the life and thoughts of the influential philosopher David Hume. Burton's meticulous research and engaging writing style helped to illuminate Hume's legacy, making it accessible to a broader audience. In addition to his literary accomplishments, Burton served as the secretary of the Scottish Prison Board from 1854 to 1877, where he was involved in reforming the penal system. He was appointed Historiographer Royal in 1867, a position that underscored his importance in the field of Scottish historiography. Burton's scholarly work and public service left a lasting impact on both historical scholarship and the administration of justice in Scotland, cementing his legacy as a key figure in 19th-century Scottish intellectual life.
Famous Quotes
View all 3 quotes“A great library cannot be constructed; it is the growth of ages.”
“Scott saw its ludicrous proportions; and it is likely that posterity will remember the Pictish question in the discussion between Monkbarns and Sir Arthur Wardour after the volumes of Whitaker, Goodall, Pinkerton, Chalmers, Ritter, and Grant have been long entombed in their proper shelves.”
“In historical literature, Scotland has taken the lead of every other European country. This makes it not a little remarkable, that no continuous and complete national history has been attempted until very recently. The contributions of Robertson, Pinkerton, Laing, Hume, and we may add to the list, McCrie, Cook, and others, refer chiefly to insulated periods, more or less interesting; and allowing for the prejudices and predelictions of some of the writers, they all form either valuable portions, or amusing fragments of the Scottish annals.”
Books from the author
