James Beattie
1735–1803 (age 68)
Biography
James Beattie, celebrated for the Essay on the Nature and Immutability of Truth, worked to renew moral philosophy with a humane heart and clear prose, insisting that virtue and understanding walked together. His lectures at Aberdeen encouraged generations to marry reason with conscience.
His grave beside the West Church of St Nicholas in Aberdeen stands as a testament to a writer who held the lamp of learning high for his students and fellow citizens.