Who was George Berkeley? (Often known as Bishop
Berkeley)
Philosopher of subjective idealism and a Cleric.
Date and Place of Birth:
12th March 1685, Dysart Castle, near Thomastown,
County Kilkenny, Ireland.
Family Background:
Eldest son of William Berkeley, Commissioned
Customs Officer, and gentleman who was an English settler in Ireland.
Education:
Kilkenny College. Trinity College, Dublin.
Chronology/Biography of George Berkeley:
1700:
Goes up to Trinity College, Dublin.
1704:
Graduates from Trinity and starts a period of private study.
1705: He formed a
society to discuss the "new philosophy." Became
interested in the work of Isaac Newton,
Robert Boyle and John
Locke.
1707:
Elected fellow at Trinity College which meant he could continue
to live in rooms. Wrote two short mathematical works. Became a tutor
of Greek.
1709:
He is Ordained as a Deacon in the Anglican Church.
1710:
He is Ordained as a Priest.
1712:
Visits England.
1713:
He is presented to the Queen at the Royal Court by Jonathan
Swift and he quickly becomes a favourite. Becomes the Chaplain
to Lord Peterborough. Is given a poem by Alexander Pope.
1714: Is a special
ambassador for the coronation of the King of Sicily.
1715-1720:
Becomes tutor to the son of Dr. St. George Ashe the Bishop of Clogher
and travels widely with him especially on the continent. He climbed
Mount Vesuvius while it was erupting, and his notes were published
in the Transactions of the Philosophical Society later.
1721:
Returns to Ireland now as the Chaplain to the Duke of Grafton. Is
granted the degree of Doctor of Divinity and lectures in divinity
at Trinity College.
1722:
Appointed as the Dean of Dromore.
1723:
Jonathan Swift's friend Miss Vanhomrigh,
who was immortalised as "Vanessa" dies leaving him half
of her property in her will.
1724:
Appointed as the Dean of Londonderry. He is promised a grant of
20,000 pounds from the government to found a college in the Bermudas.
1728:
Sails to America and stays at a plantation he had bought at Middletown,
Rhode Island waiting for the Government grant to come through.
1732:
Hears that he will not get the grant he donates his books and other
chattels to Yale UNiversity and returns to England.
1734:
Appointed as the Bishop of Cloyne in Ireland.
1735:
Studies the reasons for the poor economic conditions in Ireland.
1739: Opening of
the Foundling Hospital for young children which Berkeley had become
one of its founders and first Governors.
1750:
Death of his eldest son.
1752:
Resigns his Bishopric and moves to Oxford from Cloyne with
his family as his son George is studying there.
Written Works:
- 1707: “An Essay
towards a New Theory of Vision”.
- 1709: "A
Discourse on Passive Obedience" (A collection of his sermons
from the College Chapel)
- 1710:
“A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge”. "De
Motu" (On Motion).
- 1713:
"Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous".
- 1721: "An
Essay towards preventing the Ruin of Great Britain" (published
anonymously).
- 1724: "A
Proposal for the Better Supplying of Churches in our Foreign Plantations
and for Converting the Savage Americans to Christianity"
(Pamphlet)
- 1732: “Alciphron
or the Minute Philosopher”.
- 1733: "The
Theory of Vision or Visual Language … Vindicated and Explained"
- 1734: "The
Analyst", (which attacked higher mathematics as a route to
free-thinking).
- 1735: "The
Querist" (Part One)
- 1736: "The
Querist" (Part Two)
- 1737: "The
Querist" (Part Three)
- 1744: “Siris,
or a Chain of Philosophical Reflexions and Enquiries concerning
the Virtues of Tar-Water"
- 1752: "Further
Thoughts on Tar-water" (he felt pine tar was a disinfectant
and a combatant against disease)
Marriage:
1728 to Anne Forster, daughter of the Lord Chief
Justice of Ireland.
Date and Place of Death:
14th January 1753, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England,
whilst listening to his wife reading the bible.
Age at Death:
67.
Site of Grave:
The Nave of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford.
Places of Interest:
OXFORD:
