First fame and the Grand tour: 1758–1765 thumb|Portchester Castle came under Gibbon's command for a brief period while he was an officer in the South Hampshire Militia. Upon his return to England, Gibbon published his first book, Essai sur l'Étude de la Littérature in 1761, which produced an initial taste of celebrity and distinguished him, in Paris at least, as a man of letters.In the Essai, the 24-year-old boldly braved the reigning philosoph[e]ic fashion to uphold the studious values and practices of the érudits (antiquarian scholars). Womersley, p. 11; and The Miscellaneous Works, 1st ed., vol. 2.
First fame and the Grand tour: 1758–1765 thumb|Portchester Castle came under Gibbon's command for a brief period while he was an officer in the South Hampshire Militia. Upon his return to England, Gibbon published his first book Essai sur l'Étude de la Littérature in 1761, which produced an initial :taste of celebrity and distinguished him, in Paris at least, as a man of letters.In the Essai, the 24-year-o?ld boldly braved the reigning philosoph[e]ic fashion to uphold the stu:dious values and practices of the érudits (antiquarian scholars). Womersley, p. 11; and The Miscella,neous Works, 1st ed., vol 2.