Hugh S. R. Elliot

Hugh Samuel Roger Elliot (3 April 1881 – 6 May 1930), best known as Hugh S. R. Elliot was an English science writer.[1]

For the MP for Ayrshire North, see Hugh Elliot (MP). For the ornithologist, see Hugh Elliott. For the diplomat, see Hugh Elliot.
Hugh Samuel Roger Elliot
Born3 April 1881
Died6 May 1930 (1930-05-07) (aged 49)
Hampton
OccupationScience writer

Biography

Elliot was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge. Following the outbreak of the Second Boer War in late 1899, he obtained a commission as second lieutenant in the Coldstream Guards on 17 February 1900, and served on the staff as signaling officer in South Africa from 18 June 1901.[2][1] He was back as a regular officer in his regiment from September 1902,[3] but resigned from the army later the same year.[4]

His son Herbert Elliot was born June 3, 1909.[5]

He identified as a scientific materialist and was highly critical of metaphysical speculation.[6][7] In his book Modern Science and the Illusions of Professor Bergson (1912), he attacked Henri Bergson's vitalist and non-scientific ideas.[8][9][10][11][12] Elliot expounded three principles of scientific materialism: the uniformity of law, the non-existence of teleology and the denial of any entity that cannot be expressed in terms of matter and motion.[7][13] H. P. Lovecraft was influenced by Elliot's materialism.[14]

Elliot was honorary secretary of the Savile Club (1909-1917).[15] In 1914, he translated Jean-Baptiste Lamarck's Zoological Philosophy.[16] He was the editor of The Annual Register (1915-1920).[17]

Elliot was an expert bridge player.[17]

Death

Elliot died in an aeroplane crash during an altitude test in Hampton on 6 May 1930.[1] An inquest concluded a verdict of "accidental death" and did not attribute negligence to his instructors.[18]

Publications

Books

Selected papers

References
  1. Hicks, G. Dawes. (1930). Mr. Hugh S. R. Elliot. Nature 125: 786-787.
  2. Hart′s Army list, 1902
  3. "No. 27474". The London Gazette. 16 September 1902. p. 5961.
  4. "No. 27481". The London Gazette. 10 October 1902. p. 6411.
  5. Barker, G. F. Russell; Stenning, Alan H. (1928). The Record of Old Westminsters. Volume II. London: Chiswick Press. p. 1046
  6. Baylis, Charles Augustus. (1965). Metaphysics. pp. 29-30
  7. Nielsen, Kai. (1971). Reason and Practice: A Modern Introduction to Philosophy. Harper & Row. p. 340
  8. Anonymous. (1912). Review: A Materialist Critic Of Bergson: Modern Science And The Illusions Of Professor Bergson by Hugh S. R. Elliot. The British Medical Journal 1 (2684): 1303.
  9. Dewey, John. (1912). Reviewed Work: Modern Science and the Illusions of Professor Bergson by Hugh S. R. Elliot, Ray Lankester. The Philosophical Review 21 (6): 705-707.
  10. Jennings, H. S. (1913). Reviewed Work: Modern Science and the Illusions of Professor Bergson by Hugh S. R. Elliot, E. Ray Lankester. The Journal of Philosophy, Psychology and Scientific Methods 10 (13): 353-358.
  11. Smith, R. (1913). Review: Modern Science and the Illusions of Professor Bergson by Hugh S. R. Elliot. International Journal of Ethics 23 (2): 216.
  12. Bowler, Peter J. (2001). Reconciling Science and Religion: The Debate in Early-Twentieth-Century Britain. University of Chicago Press. pp. 348-349
  13. Jones, A. H. (1920). Review: Modern Science and Materialism by Hugh Elliot. The Philosophical Review 29 (5): 495-497.
  14. Joshi, S. T. (2001). A Dreamer and a Visionary: H.P. Lovecraft in His Time. Liverpool University Press. p. 293. ISBN 0-85323-936-3
  15. Anonymous. (1923). The Savile Club, 1868 to 1923. London: Savile Club. pp. 91-94
  16. Anonymous. (1915). Review: The "Zoological Philosophy" Of Lamarck: Zoological Philosophy by J. B. Lamarck; Hugh Elliot. The British Medical Journal 1 (2823): 252-253.
  17. Anonymous. (8 May 1930). The Late Mr Hugh Elliot: Expert Bridge Player and Writer. The Scotsman. p. 12
  18. Anonymous. (10 May 1930). Mr Hugh Elliot's Death: Story of Fatal Air Crash During Altitude Test. The Scotsman. p. 16
  19. Small, Albion W. (1917). Review: Herbert Spencer by Hugh Elliot. The American Historical Review 23 (1): 157-159.
  20. Ayres, C. E. (1920). Review: Modern Science and Materialism by Hugh Elliot. American Journal of Sociology 26 (2): 249-250.
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