Hartley

Hartley, David (1705-57), the author of Observations on Man (1749), was born near Halifax, and educated at Bradford and Jesus College, Cambridge, of which he became fellow. Being unable to sign the Articles, he abandoned the idea of taking orders, and became a physician, practising at Bury St. Edmunds, in London, and at Batb, where he died. His doctrine of the association of ideas has been very generally accepted; that of vibrations had less permanent value. Hartley, who was a fellow of the Royal Society, and intimate with some of the best men of his time, was engaged for no less than sixteen years upon his great work.

His son, by his first wife, named David (1732-1813), was a friend of Franklin and a prominent advocate of the abolition of the slave trade. He represented Hull for several years, and was the author of Letters on the American War. He also edited his father's Observations.