George Turnbull

George Turnbull (1698 to 1748) was a Scottish philosopher, theologian and teacher, an early but little-known figure of the Scottish Enlightenment. Born in Alloa and educated at the University of Edinburgh, he became regent at Marischal College, Aberdeen, in 1721, where his pupils included Thomas Reid. He argued that the Newtonian method of experiment could be used to build a moral philosophy, and he drew heavily on Lord Shaftesbury while admiring the classical moralists. After leaving Aberdeen he worked as a tutor, travelled on the Continent, took orders in the Church of England and became chaplain to the Prince of Wales. His main works include The Principles of Moral and Christian Philosophy, an essay on the connection between the doctrines and miracles of Jesus Christ, A Treatise on Ancient Painting and Observations upon Liberal Education, the first formal treatise on the theory and practice of education from the Scottish Enlightenment.