Record

CollectionGB 0231 University of Aberdeen, Special Collections
LevelSeries
Ref NoMS 30/36
Alt Ref NoMS 30/B.36
TitleCopy correspondence from James Beattie and Mrs Beattie to Dr Dun and Mr Alexander Cooper
Date1771 - 1788
Extent5 items
Administrative HistoryMary (Mally Beattie) (1744 - 1807), Beattie's wife. Beattie met her when he boarded with her father on first coming to Aberdeen in 1758. They married in 1767.

James Dun [1708-1798]. He was Beattie's father-in-law. At Marischal College 1728-1732. Under-master at Aberdeen Grammar School in 1732. Master and later Rector from 1744. LLD Marischal College 1772. He married Mary Beaton [1706-1781], who was the daughterof Kenneth Bethune Scott. The mental health of the Duns' children was said to be inherited from her. Beattie lived in Dun's house in Schoolhil when he first came to Aberdeen in 1758 and also after he married Dun's daughter in 1767, and the families shared a house for much of Beattie's life. In the final years of Dun's life the relationshp became tense with disagreements on the management of Mary Beattie's mental health.
DescriptionCopy letters from Beattie and his wife describing their 1771 trip to Edinburgh and London and Beatte's meetings with Dr John Hawkesworth, Dr Samuel Johnson, Elizabeth Montagu and others.

Together with two copy letters of 1788 to Alexander Coper, for whom Beattie is endeavouring to find a position.
Access StatusOpen
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