George Berkley Biography and Timeline — Page 2

Berkeley Publishes Three Dialogues

Berkeley used conversations between Hylas and Philonous to defend immaterialism against philosophical objections.

Berkeley Travels With Lord Peterborough

Berkeley accompanied the Earl of Peterborough on a diplomatic mission to Sicily as chaplain and secretary.

Berkeley Travels On Continental Tour

Berkeley visited continental Europe as part of a period spent accompanying aristocratic travelers. Contact with libraries and cultural sites broadened his experience beyond Dublin's academic environment.

Berkeley Returns From Diplomatic Tour

Berkeley left Peterborough's party and returned to Britain after travelling in France and Italy.

Berkeley Begins Extended Italian Travels

Berkeley served as tutor and companion to George Ashe during an extended journey on the continent. The travels brought him into contact with Italian art and scholarly culture.

Berkeley Tutors George Ashe In Europe

Berkeley accompanied George Ashe, the bishop of Clogher's son, as his tutor on a long journey through continental Europe.

Berkeley Observes Italian Natural Phenomena

Berkeley's travel notes recorded observations of places and phenomena encountered in Italy. These experiences complemented his interest in how scientific descriptions relate to perception.

Berkeley Becomes Senior College Fellow

Berkeley advanced to senior fellowship at Trinity College Dublin while retaining his academic connections.

Berkeley Prepares Treatise On Motion

During his continental travels Berkeley developed arguments later published as De Motu. The project examined the conceptual status of force and motion in mathematical physics.

Berkeley Enters Paris Motion Competition

Berkeley submitted a treatise on motion for a scientific competition organised by the Royal Academy of Sciences in Paris.

Berkeley Returns From Continental Travels

Berkeley concluded a lengthy European tour and returned to Ireland after visiting several Italian cities.

De Motu

Publication of "De Motu"

Role range: 1734-1752

Berkeley Interprets Forces Instrumentally

Berkeley treated certain mechanical terms as useful for calculation without requiring them to name hidden physical entities. This position made De Motu important to later debates about scientific explanation.

Berkeley Questions Absolute Motion

In De Motu Berkeley criticized treating absolute space and motion as straightforward objects of experience. His discussion addressed foundational assumptions in the physical theories of his era.

Berkeley Publishes De Motu

Berkeley published his Latin treatise De Motu, questioning the explanatory status of forces within mechanics.

Berkeley Appointed Senior Greek Lecturer

Trinity College Dublin appointed Berkeley senior Greek lecturer after his extended absence abroad.

Berkeley Appointed Divinity Lecturer

Berkeley acquired teaching responsibilities in divinity as his academic and ecclesiastical career advanced.

Berkeley Serves As College Preacher

Berkeley undertook preaching duties at Trinity College Dublin alongside his other teaching responsibilities.

Berkeley Returns To Trinity Teaching

Berkeley resumed his Dublin academic responsibilities after his prolonged European travels. His position linked his developing religious ambitions with continued philosophical scholarship.

Berkeley Holds Senior Proctor Office

Berkeley held the office of senior proctor at Trinity College Dublin, overseeing aspects of collegiate discipline.

Berkeley Appointed Hebrew Lecturer

Berkeley was appointed Hebrew lecturer, reflecting his broad scholarly duties at Trinity College Dublin.

Berkeley Becomes Dean Of Derry

Berkeley received appointment as Dean of Derry in the Church of Ireland. The office provided security while he pursued an ambitious educational project overseas.

Berkeley Resigns Trinity Fellowship

Berkeley relinquished his Trinity College fellowship in May after gaining the valuable deanship of Derry.

Berkeley Promotes Bermuda College Proposal

Berkeley circulated plans to found a college intended for education and missionary work in the Atlantic world. The proposal joined his theological ideals to a contested colonial educational vision.

Berkeley Recruits Atlantic College Supporters

Berkeley sought academic collaborators willing to teach at the proposed Anglican college in Bermuda.

Berkeley Marries Anne Forster

Berkeley married Anne Forster shortly before undertaking his transatlantic project. Their subsequent household life was bound up with his plans for a college in Bermuda.

Berkeley Sails Across Atlantic

Berkeley departed Britain for North America with his wife and companions while pursuing the proposed Bermuda college.

Berkeley Establishes Residence In Rhode Island

Berkeley settled near Newport while awaiting financial support for his proposed Bermuda college. He continued to study and write despite uncertainty surrounding the project's future.

Berkeley Reaches Newport Rhode Island

Berkeley arrived in Newport in January and remained in Rhode Island while awaiting promised college funds.

Berkeley Purchases Rhode Island Farm

Berkeley bought a property in Middletown, Rhode Island, where he lived while awaiting support for his educational project.

Berkeley Preaches At Newport Church

During his residence in Rhode Island, Berkeley preached at Trinity Church in Newport and engaged local clergy.

Berkeley Publishes Alciphron Dialogues In America

During his Rhode Island residence Berkeley worked on the religious and moral dialogue later published as Alciphron. It answered critics of Christianity through extended conversations about reason and belief.

Berkeley Publishes Alciphron Against Freethinkers

Alciphron appeared as a series of dialogues arguing against skeptical and irreligious positions. The work combined moral philosophy with Berkeley's defense of the social importance of religion.

Berkeley Returns To Britain After Funding Fails

Berkeley abandoned his Bermuda scheme after the promised government financing failed to materialize. His return ended a notable but unsuccessful attempt to establish a transatlantic college.

Berkeley Abandons Bermuda College Scheme

The expected parliamentary grant never arrived, leaving Berkeley unable to establish the proposed college in Bermuda.

Bishop

Appointed Bishop of Cloyne

Role range: 1734-1752

Berkeley Becomes Bishop Of Cloyne

Berkeley was consecrated Bishop of Cloyne in Ireland and assumed substantial pastoral responsibilities. The appointment placed a leading philosopher within the senior hierarchy of the established church.

Berkeley Challenges Calculus Foundations In Analyst

In The Analyst Berkeley questioned the logical consistency of infinitesimals used by contemporary mathematicians. His criticisms stimulated efforts to articulate more rigorous foundations for calculus.

Berkeley Installed As Cloyne Bishop

Berkeley took up episcopal duties in the Church of Ireland after his appointment to the see of Cloyne.

Berkeley Publishes Mathematical Free Thinking Defence

Berkeley defended his earlier criticism of mathematical reasoning in a response to objections against The Analyst.