| Administrative History | George Glennie married James Beattie's niece, Margaret Valentine. He succeeded Beattie in 1796 as professor of Moral Philosophy at Aberdeen University.
Sir William Forbes [1739-1806] Banker, longstanding friend and later biographer of Beattie. From an Episcopalian family, and related to Lord Forbes of Pistligo, whose estates were confiscated for his part in the 1745 rebellion. He was apprenticed to Coutt's bank, becoming a partner in Forbes, Hunter and Co in 1773. He was well-known in literary circles in Edinburgh and London. Beattie met him in Edinburgh in 1765, introduced by Robert Arbuthnot. Forbes was Beattie's banker, adviser on literary matters, and general confidant |
| Description | Copies kept by George Glennie of his letters to Sir William Forbes, September 1803 - November 1806, May 1821. The letters are initially concerned with Forbes's duties as executor in the winding-up of Beattie's affairs, but from November 1803 on Glennie is providing Forbes with materials on Beattie's early life, aiding him in the collection of Beattie's letters, writing critiques of the manuscript version of the Life, and otherwise assisting Forbes in his work on the biography. As well as the copy leters, this section also contains materials collected by Glennie on Beattie's early life, his critical notes on Forbes's manuscript, and his collation of David Hume's essays.
The copy letters are in reply to letters from Forbes preserved in MS 30/38 and are docketed with the date of the letter replied to. |