Playwright John Home, 1722-1808, author of
Douglas, was a key figure for the Scottish Enlightenment. He was a member of the Select Society with David Hume, Adam Ferguson, and Adam Smith. He was a distant relative of David Hume, and they quarreled good-naturedly throughout their friendship about the spelling of their surnames, which they pronounced the same but spelled differently.
Home was born in Leith on September 22nd 1722 (OS). His father, Alexander Home, was town clerk; his mother, Christian Hay, was the daughter of an Edinburgh writer. Home attended the University of Edinburgh, where he studied to be a minister. In 1745, he volunteered in the College Company to defend Edinburgh against the Highland rebels. After the Highlanders routed the Whig forces, Home returned to reconnoitre
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Citation: Owen, Jim. "John Home". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 31 October 2005 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=2189, accessed 22 November 2024.]