The Library of the Faculty of Advocates played an important role in the dissemination of ideas during the Scottish Enlightenment. The Edinburgh literati used the rich collections of books and manuscripts when researching their own works, while the building itself hosted meetings of the Select Society. This talk focuses on the important role which the Library played in 18th-century Edinburgh, and the significance of Keepers of the Library such as Thomas Ruddiman and David Hume.

Speaker

Ralph McLean

Ralph McLean is Curator of Manuscripts for the long 18th-century collections at the National Library of Scotland, whose collections were formerly in the possession of the Faculty of Advocates until the establishment of the National Library in 1925. He curates manuscript collections of key Scottish Enlightenment figures such as David Hume and Adam Smith.