David Hume served as British Charge d’affaires

David Hume served for some years as secretary and then as chargé d’affaires in the British embassy in Paris. He returned to London in 1766 and worked for a while as an undersecretary of state. In 1769, Hume retired to live with his sister. In 1775 he was stricken by an incurable intestinal cancer. Upon learning of his illness Hume wrote, “I now reckon upon a speedy dissolution.” He coolly added, “. . . a man of sixty-five, by dying, cuts off only a few years of infirmities.”

An intriguing detail about David Hume is that he returned to Edinburgh and remained there in St. Andrew's Square in New Town until his passing. That Square is now known as 21 Saint David Street in contemporary Edinburgh. According to certain historical evidence, the street may have been called in this author's honor.