David Hume: Biography

• 1711 April 26, is Born at Edinburgh on April 26 1711
  
• After an early education at home enters Edinburgh University where he began the study of law
  
• Three years later turns from the study of law to pursue an intense independent study of his own devising.
• After an attack of hypochondria he visits France where, over the next three years, he works on his Treatise of Human Nature.
• The first two volumes of Treatise are published anonymously in 1739
• The third volume of Treatise published in 1740.
  
• Public reaction to his work is sparse, In response he publishes, once more anonymously, An Abstract of a Treatise of Human Nature.
  

• Published a volume of Essays which is largely successful from 1741 throughout 1743.
  
• Failed to attain the chair of moral philosophy at Edinburgh. Became a tutor to the marquis of Annandale.
• Became appointed secretary to General St. Clair an travels on a military expedition to Brittany (1746) and a diplomatic mission to Turin (1748).
• Published Philosophical Essays concerning the Human Understanding a condensation of the Treatise.
  
• Essays retitled An Inquiry concerning the Human Understanding.
• Published An Inquiry concerning Principles of Morals, also a condensation of the Treatise.
  
• Published Political Discourses with much success. 
• Worked as a keeper of the advocated library in Edinburgh.
• Published Four Dissertations: The Natural History of Religion, Of the Passions, Of Tragedy, Of the Standard of Taste.
• Was appointed private secretary to Lord Hertford, British ambassador to Paris.
• Served in London as undersecretary of state, Northern 1768 Department.
• Settled in Edinburgh and lived out the rest of his life helping young writers critically as well as financially amongst whom were Thomas Blackwell, Tobias Smollett and Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
• Later on passes away due to cancer.