Philosopher George Berkeley was born at Dysert Castle, near Thomastown, Ireland, on March 12, 1685. He graduated from Trinity College, Dublin, with a Bachelor of Arts in 1704 and was elected a fellow of the college in 1707. Three years after taking holy orders, he traveled to London, where he became acquainted with such literary figures as Swift, Addison, and Pope. After spending several years traveling across Europe, Berkeley returned to Ireland in 1721, where he filled various academic posts, including Divinity Lecturer, Hebrew Lecturer, Proctor, Dean of Dromore, and in 1724, Dean of Derry.

Hoping to establish a college in the Bermuda Islands, Berkeley sailed for America in 1728, landing at Newport, Rhode Island. After waiting three years for funding that never materialized, Berkeley aborted his mission and returned to London in 1732. Two years later, in 1734, he was appointed Bishop of Cloyne. Berkeley resided in Cloyne until 1752 at which time he retired to Oxford...