HARRIS

From Agepedia

HARRIS, James, a learned writer on phi lology and the philosophy of language, was born at Salisbury, in 1709. Having passed through his preliminary studies, he entered as a gentleman commoner of Wadham college, Oxford, at the age of 16; after which he became a probationer at Lincoln's Inn. The death of his father put him in possession of an independent fortune at the age of 23; on which he retired to his native place, to dedicate his time to classical literature. In 1744, he published a volume, containing three trea tises,On Art; on Music and Painting, and On Happiness. This was a prelude to the most celebrated of his productions, Hermes, or a Philosophical Enquiry concerning Universal Grammar. This wfcrk displays much ingenuity, and an extensive acquaintance with the writings of the Greek poets and philosophers; but the author's ignorance of the ancient dialects of ^e northern nations has caused him to take an imperfect survey of his subject. In 1761, he was chosen member of parliament, and'heldseveral public places. In 1775, he published Philosophical Arrangements, part of a systematic work, which he had projected, as an illustration of the Logic of Aristotle. His concluding Work, Philological Inquiries, was completed in 1780, but was not published till after his death (December 22,1780). A collective edition of his works was published by his son, the earl of Malmesbury (2 vols. 4to., 1801).