Alexander Gerard was born on 22nd February 1728 in Garioch, Aberdeenshire. He was the eldest son of the local minister, the Reverend Gilbert Gerard (d. 1738), and Marjory Mitchell (d. 1738). He had a wide range of interests, most notably, natural philosophy, theology and education. During his lifetime he wrote two important works of aesthetic theory:
An Essay on Taste(1759) and
An Essay on Genius(1774), as well as writings on educational reform and religious works.
When Gerard’s father died in 1738 the family took up residence in Aberdeen, where Gerard attended grammar school. Two years later he went to Marischal College, Aberdeen, where he gained an MA in 1744. Immediately afterwards, he trained as a minister at the Divinity Hall of Aberdeen, and was licensed to preach in 1749.
When…
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Citation: Stevens, Charlotte. "Alexander Gerard". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 12 February 2010 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=1717, accessed 03 December 2024.]
