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He sets out (in his "Delineation") with the principle that private happiness must be the chief end and object of every man's pursuit; shows how the good of others affords the greatest happiness; and then, to sanction natural conscience, he calls in the authority of
284:, professor of logic and metaphysics in the University of Edinburgh 1836–1856. His eldest sister married Gavin Hamilton, bookseller and publisher in Edinburgh (also, it is believed, a member of the Airdrie family), whose eldest son was
525:"A directory for Edinburgh Leith Mussleburgh and Dalkeith containing the names and places of abode of public & private gentlemen, advocates, Writers to the Signet, merchants, manufacturers and principal trader's [sic]"
150:. He was one of the 16 children of Louisa Hamilton and her husband, the Edinburgh merchant James Balfour (1681–1737). His father had acquired the estate of Pilrig from the Gilbert family, which had lost a fortune investing in the
237:, who must approve of what promotes the greatest happiness. This theory does not give morality 'a sufficiently deep foundation in the constitution of man on the character of God, and could not have stood against the assaults of
182:
He was
Secretary to the Edinburgh Company of Golfers, and belonged to both the Edinburgh and Leith Golf Courses. In this role he would have been involved in the establishment of the original rules of golf in 1777.
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241:. ... In his "Philosophical Essays" he wrote against Hume and Lord Kaimes, and in defence of active power and liberty. Like all active opponents of the new
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An
Inquiry concerning the Principles of Morals. This book was published anonymously, the first edition in 1753, the second in 1763.
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288:, professor of mathematics in Marischal College and University, Aberdeen, author of a treatise on the national debt. The brothers
172:
and sheriff-substitute of the county of
Edinburgh. In 1754 he was appointed to the chair of Professor of Moral Philosophy in the
307:. It is noteworthy that Stevenson's christened name was Robert Lewis Balfour Stevenson, in deference to his ancestral family.
262:. They had one daughter, Mary Cecelia, and three sons, James, John, and Lewis. Mary married William Gibson and was mother to
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Letter to the writer from John M. Balfour-Melville, Esq., of Pilrig and Mount
Melville, great-grandson of Professor Balfour.
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were great-grandsons, the former a heart specialist in
Scotland, and the latter a marine engineer in New Zealand.
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In 1775 he is still listed as living in Pilrig House, having inherited the property on the death of his father.
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415:"James Balfour, 1705 - 1795. Secretary, Edinburgh Company of Golfers | National Galleries of Scotland"
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A Delineation of the Nature and
Obligation of Morality, with Reflexions upon Mr. Hume's book entitled
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His brother Robert
Balfour (born 1706) was a local entrepreneur, running a soapworks in
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Balfour's mother was a Miss
Hamilton, of Airdrie, great-grandaunt of the late
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In 1737 he married
Cecilia Helen Elphinstone (1705–1780), daughter of Sir
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In 1750 his niece Helen
Balfour, married rev Thomas Scott, minister of
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249:, that all our ideas are derived from sensation and reflexion.
176:, and in 1764 transferred to that of Professor of Public Law.
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The grave of James Balfour, South Leith Churchyard, Edinburgh
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He died on 6 March 1795. He is buried in the graveyard of
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His grandson Elphinstone Balfour was a bookseller on the
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he felt it necessary to oppose the favourite theory of
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In 1737 his sister Bridget Balfour (d. 1764) married
165:, he was called to the Scottish bar as an advocate.
154:, and built the current Pilrig House around 1705.
499:Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand
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198:He was the author of three philosophical books:
570:The Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biography
482:. Vol. 1. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
217:, published in 1782 under the author's name.
455:. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
317:His granddaughter Margaret Balfour married
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615:Academics of the University of Edinburgh
168:He held the offices of treasurer to the
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25:(20 August 1705 – 6 March 1795) was a
610:Alumni of the University of Edinburgh
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303:and the great-great-grandfather of
266:who was created a baronet in 1831.
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446:"Balfour, James (1705–1795)"
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605:18th-century British philosophers
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327:Moderator of the General Assembly
282:Sir William Hamilton, 9th Baronet
138:He was born on 20 August 1705 at
478:Dictionary of National Biography
452:Dictionary of National Biography
273:and operating a stagecoach from
211:, published anonymously in 1768.
472:"Balfour, George William"
338:St Cuthbert's Church, Edinburgh
323:St Cuthbert's Church, Edinburgh
96:Cecilia Helen Elphinstone
16:Scottish lawyer and philosopher
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299:He was the grandfather to Rev
1:
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578:M'Cosh's Scottish Philosophy
7:
365:"James Balfour (1705-1795)"
215:Philosophical Dissertations
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575:Anderson's Scottish Nation
553:Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae
157:After studying law at the
495:"Balfour, James Melville"
345:South Leith Parish Church
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188:South Leith Parish Church
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52:portrait by J. Middleton
174:University of Edinburgh
159:University of Edinburgh
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20:James Balfour of Pilrig
305:Robert Louis Stevenson
290:George William Balfour
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142:House, midway between
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419:nationalgalleries.org
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224:, in his work on the
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209:Philosophical Essays
170:Faculty of Advocates
163:University of Leyden
65:20 August 1705
226:Scottish Philosophy
505:on 1 December 2017
264:James Gibson-Craig
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80:6 March 1795
152:Darien Expedition
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600:1795 deaths
595:1705 births
535:13 February
529:archive.org
467:Lee, Sidney
424:13 February
399:13 February
393:archive.org
374:13 February
369:Our History
31:philosopher
589:Categories
351:References
312:Royal Mile
277:to Leith.
243:scepticism
509:6 January
329:in 1847.
275:Edinburgh
148:Edinburgh
93:Spouse(s)
88:(aged 89)
161:and the
108:Children
27:Scottish
531:. 1794
395:. 1775
254:Family
140:Pilrig
271:Leith
247:Locke
194:Works
144:Leith
537:2018
511:2015
426:2018
401:2018
376:2018
325:and
292:and
239:Hume
146:and
118:Life
77:Died
62:Born
235:God
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