James Esdaile (1775–1854) was a Scottish minister and writer who spent his working life mainly at the East Church, Perth, Scotland.
[4] It proved a source of controversy[5] with Thomas Brown, whom Esdaile accused of plagiarism, based largely on the use of the term "Relationist".
[6] It also gave the author's opinion that Francis Bacon's influence on the advances of two centuries in natural philosophy was largely restricted to chemistry.
[7] Esdaile was considered a candidate for the Chair of Moral Philosophy at Edinburgh in 1820, on Brown's death, at least in the eyes of some supporters of the Church of Scotland.
[8] In the event John Wilson was elected over the claims of Sir William Hamilton.