William Duff (1732–1815) was a Scottish Presbyterian minister and one of the first writers to analyse the nature of genius as a property of human psychology. His "Essay on Original Genius" is frequently cited as a landmark in the Western analysis of genius and creativity.
Ministry and family.
Duff was a Scottish minister and M.A., was licensed by the presbytery 25 June 1755, called 18 September, and ordained 8 October, when he was appointed to the parish of Glenbucket, Aberdeenshire. Thence he was transferred to Peterculter in the same county, 24 October 1766, being admitted 4 March 1767. He was nominated minister of Foveran, also in Aberdeenshire, in February 1774, and took up his home a year later. There he got a new church built in 1794, and died father of the synod, 23 February 1815, in the eighty-third year of his age, and sixtieth of his ministry.
Theory of genius.
Duff was primarily interested in establishing the cognitive traits that explained variance in people's accomplishments. He postulated three aspects: imagination, judgement and taste. He emphasised imagination as making the most important contribution to genius.
Published works.
Duff is author of:
Duff also furnished an account of Foveran to Sir J. Sinclair's "Statistical Account of Scotland".
Family.
On 4 September 1778, he married Ann Mitchell, by whom he had two sons and four daughters.
Notes.
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