Brief guide to manuscripts collections| William L. Clements Library The University of Michigan David Hartley Papers |
David Hartley, son of the philosopher David Hartley, studied medicine at the University of Leyden. During the 1760's he gained recognition as a scientist and, through mutual interests, became an intimate friend of Benjamin Franklin. He entered Parliament for Hull in 1774 and sat until 1780 and again from 1782 to 1784. Hartley was sympathetic to the Rockingham Whigs, although he did not hold office in either Rockingham ministry. He was expert in public finance and spoke frequently in opposition to the war in America. In 1778 he wrote a pamphlet, Letters on the American War, which accused Great Britain of tyranny over the colonies, urged recognition of American independence, and proposed 'mutual naturalization' between the two countries. Although a liberal on American policy, Hartley was a long-time friend of North and strongly disliked Shelburne. He supported the Coalition by voting against Shelburne's peace preliminaries. Hartley was sent to Paris in April, 1783, to negotiate the definitive treaty with the United States and to make a trade agreement. His negotiations were unsuccessful, and ultimately the preliminary treaty was accepted. After 1784 Hartley retired from public life.
Correspondence of David Hartley, British stateman, scientist, political pamphleteer.
This collection of 200 items consists almost entirely of Hartley's copies of his correspondence with Secretary of State Charles James Fox and his successor, the marquess of Carmarthen, and of letters from the two secretaries to Hartley. All of the material is related to the peace negotiations.
Purchased, 1933
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