CHAMBERS (Ehhraim)

, author of the dictionary of sciences called the Cyclopædia. He was born at Milton in the county of Westmoreland, where he received the common education for qualifying a youth for trade and commerce. When he became of a proper age, he was put apprentice to Mr. Senex the globemaker, a business which is connected with literature, especially with geography and astronomy. It was during Mr. Chambers's residence with this skilful artist, that he acquired that taste for literature which accompanied him through life, and directed all his pursuits. It was even at this time that he formed the design of his grand work, the Cyclopædia; some of the first articles of which were written behind the counter. To have leisure to pursue this work, he quitted Mr. Senex, and took chambers at Gray's-Inn, where he chiefly resided during the rest of his life. The first edition of the Cyclopædia, which was the result of many years intense application, appeared in 1728, in 2 vols. folio. The reputation that Mr. Chambers acquired by the execution of this work, procured him the honour of being elected F. R. S. Nov. 6, 1729. In less than ten years time, a second edition became necessary; which accordingly was printed, with corrections and additions, in 1738; and this was followed by a third edition the very next year.

Although the Cyclopædia was the chief business of mr. Chambers's life, and may be regarded as almost the sole foundation of his fame, his attention was not wholly confined to this undertaking. He was concerned in a periodical publication, called, The Literary Magazine, which was begun in 1735. In this work he wrote a variety of articles; particularly a review of Morgan's Moral Philosopher. He was also concerned with Mr. John Martyn, professor of botany at Cambridge, in preparing for the press a translation and abridgment of the Philosophical History and Memoirs of the R. Acad. of Sciences at Paris; which work was not published till 1742, some time after our author's decease, in 5 volumes 8vo. Mr. Chambers was also author of the translation of the Jesuit's Perspective, from the French, in 4to; which has gone through several editions.

Mr. Chambers's close and unremitting attention to his studies at length impaired his health, and obliged him occasionally to take a country lodging, but without much benefit; he afterwards visited the south of France, but still with little effect; he therefore returned to England, where he soon after died, at Islington, May 15, 1740, and was buried at Westminster Abbey.

After the author's death, two more editions of his Cyclopædia were published. The proprietors afterwards procured a supplement to be compiled, by Mr. Scott and Dr. Hill, but chiefly by the latter, which extended to two volumes more; and the whole has smce been reduced into one alphabet in 4 volumes, by Dr. Rees, forming a very valuable body of the sciences.