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| BACKGROUND | AIMS OF THE SALTIRE SOCIETY | PRESIDENT | DIRECTOR | CHAIRMAN |
| ADMINISTRATOR | DAVID HUME | RELATED LINKS | SALTIRE NAME |
| At the beginning of 1993, a Saltire Society steering committee began to put forward ways
in which David Hume, the Scottish philosopher and historian, might be commemorated. Major sponsors of this commemorative project were: The Scottish Arts Council National Lottery Fund, Bank of Scotland, the Faculty of Advocates, the Esmee Fairbairn Charitable Trust and The Saltire Society itself. A large number of other Trusts, corporations and individual enthusiasts, both in Britain and the United States, contributed most generously. 
With their help, we have erected an immortal memorial to an immortal Scot. We wish
to thank all who have supported this international appeal.The Saltire Society was founded in 1936 to encourage everything that might improve the quality of life in Scotland and restore the country to its proper place as a creative force in European civilisation. As part of its 60th Anniversary celebrations, the Society presented the City of Edinburgh with a timeless monument to Scotland's greatest philosopher, central figure of the Scottish Enlightenment, DAVID HUME. The monument was designed and sculpted by the talented young Scottish sculptor, Alexander Stoddart. He has portrayed Hume in the classical style, thus aligning Hume's profound thinking more with Greek and Roman, than with Christian philosophy. The wide implications of his empiricist approach from the core of the work of the Hume Society, a flourishing international association of philosophers and historians. 
The statue was unveiled on Saint Andrew's Day 1997 by Sir Stewart Sutherland, Principal
of the University of Edinburgh, followed by a reception in the City Chambers hosted by
the Lord Provost, Eric Milligan.The Society produces a wide selection of Scottish publications among which is The Scottish Enlightenment edited by David Daiches and Peter Jones. These may be ordered from the Society or this website or through any bookshop. The above is reproduced from a leaflet produced with financial help from the Esmee Fairbairn Charitable Trust. Copies of this leaflet may be obtained from the offices of The Saltire Society, 9 Fountain Close, 22 High Street, Edinburgh EHl 1TF. |