The Poker Club was one of several clubs at the heart of the Scottish Enlightenment where many associated with that movement met and exchanged views in a convivial atmosphere. The Scottish Enlightenment was a period of intellectual ferment in Scotland, running from approximately 1740 to 1800. ...

The Poker was the name given to the Militia Club at its third or fourth meeting. The Militia was formed in Edinburgh to promote the cause of establishing a militia in Scotland. It was thought that the formation of a democratic national force was essential to grace the dignity of the nation and the aim was to make up for the omission of that provision in the Militia Act of 1757 which applied only to England. The aim of the club provoked some unwelcome opposition and, at the suggestion of Adam Smith the name was changed so as to be enigmatic to the general public. Much as a fireplace poker stirs a fire to flame up, The Poker was to "stir up" the militia question. Lexington Minuteman representing militia minuteman John Parker A militia is a group of citizens organized to provide paramilitary service. ... Motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within Europe Scotlands location within the United Kingdom Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ... Adam Smith, FRSE (baptised June 5, 1723 – July 17, 1790) was a Scottish political economist and moral philosopher. ... Freshly forged iron fireplace pokers. ...

The club was said by Dr Carlyle to consist of all the literati of Edinburgh and its surroundings. The establishment was frugal and moderate, "as that for all clubs for a public purpose should be. The dinner was set soon after two o'clock, at one shilling a head, the wine to be confined to sherry and claret, and the reckoning to be called at six o’clock". The shilling (or informally: bob) was an English coin first issued in 1548 for Henry VIII, although arguably the testoon issued about 1487 for Henry VII was the first English shilling. ... Sherry solera Sherry is a type of wine originally produced in and around the town of Jerez, Spain. ... Claret is the chiefly British name used in English for red wine from the Bordeaux region of France, along the valleys of the rivers Gironde, Garonne and Dordogne. ... Look up reckoning in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

The first fifteen members were chosen by nomination, the rest by ballot, "two black balls to exclude the candidate". A new "preses" (chairman) was chosen at each meeting. There were three office bearers: the Secretary, Sir William Pulteney, the Assassin, Andrew Crosbie and the Assassin’s Assessor, David Hume "without whose assent nothing could be done, so that between "plus" and "minus" there was likely to be no bloodshed". A ballot is a device used to record choices made by voters. ... The blackball was used in elections to membership of a Gentlemens club (and similarly organised institutions, such as Freemasonry). ... David Hume (April 26, 1711 – August 25, 1776)[1] was a Scottish philosopher, economist, and historian who was one of the most important figures of the Scottish Enlightenment. ...

The minute book of 1776 names forty three members including Joseph Black, "Jupiter" Carlyle, John Clark of Eldin, Henry Dundas, Adam Ferguson, Lord Elibank, Sir John Dalrymple, John Hume, David Hume, William Robertson, John Robison, George Dempster, and Adam Smith. This article is about the year 1776. ... Joseph Black Joseph Black (April 16, 1728 - November 10, 1799) was a Scottish physicist and chemist. ... Alexander Carlyle (January 26, 1722 _ August 28, 1805) was a Scottish church leader. ... Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville (April 28, 1742 - May 28, 1811) was a British statesman. ... Adam Ferguson, sometimes known as Ferguson of Raith (June 20, 1723 (O.S.) – February 22, 1816) was a philosopher, proto-sociologist and historian in the Scottish Enlightenment. ... John Hume John Hume (born January 18, 1937) is an Northern Irish politician, and co-recipient of the 1998 Nobel Peace Prize, with David Trimble of the UUP. He was the second leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party, a position he held from 1979 until 2001. ... David Hume (April 26, 1711 – August 25, 1776)[1] was a Scottish philosopher, economist, and historian who was one of the most important figures of the Scottish Enlightenment. ... For the Victoria Cross recipient see William Robertson (VC) Sir William Robert Robertson (1860-1933) was a British field marshal who served as Chief of the Imperial General Staff from 1916 to 1918 during the First World War. ... John Robison (February 4, 1739 - January 30, 1805) was a Scottish physicist and inventor. ... George Dempster (1732-1818) was a Scottish lawyer who was elected member of Parliament for the Forfar and Fife boroughs. ... Adam Smith, FRSE (baptised June 5, 1723 – July 17, 1790) was a Scottish political economist and moral philosopher. ...

David Hume found the company of The Poker a relief from his sceptical depression - "Most fortunately it happens that since reason is incapable of dispelling these clouds, nature herself suffices to that purpose ... I dine, I play a game of backgammon, I converse, and am merry with my friends; and when after three or four hours amusement, I return to these speculations, they appear so cold, and strain'd, and ridiculous, that I cannot find it in my heart to enter into them any farther." Close-up of modern backgammon set. ...

References

• The Autobiography of Dr Alexander Carlyle of Inveresk, edited by John Hill Burton (London and Edinburgh 1910) p.312. quoted in –

• Daiches D., Jones P., Jones J. (eds ) The Scottish Enlightenment: 1730 - 1790 A Hotbed of Genius The University of Edinburgh, 1986. In paperback, The Saltire Society, 1996 ISBN 0854110690

• Hume, David, A Treatise of Human Nature A. Selby-Bigg (ed.) revised 2nd ed. P.H. Niddictch, Oxford University Press 1978 l, 4, 7, 269 ISBN 019824588-2

External links

• The Poker Club - list of members, etc.