, author of the scientific dictionary which goes under his name, was
, author of the scientific dictionary which goes under his name, was born at Kendal
in the county of Westmorland, the youngest of three brothers. His parents were dissenters of the presbyterian
persuasion; and not quakers, as has been reported; and
their occupation was that of farming. He was sent early
to Kendal school, where he received a good classical education. But his father, who had already placed his eldest
son at Oxford, and could not afford the same expence a
second time, determined to bring up Ephraim to trade.
He was accordingly, at a proper age, sent to London, and
spent some time in the shop of a mechanic in that city;
but, having an aversion to the business, he tried another, to
which he was equally averse, and was at last put apprentice to Mr. Senex the globe-maker, a business which is
connected with literature, and especially with astronomy
and geography. It was during Mr. Chambers’s residence
with this skilful mechanic, that he contracted that taste
for science and learning which accompanied him through
life, and directed all his pursuits, and in which his master
very liberally encouraged him. It was even at this time
that he formed the design of his grand work, the “Cyclopaedia;
” and some of the first articles of it were written behind the counter. Having conceived the idea of so great
an undertaking, he justly concluded that the execution of
it would not consist with the avocations of trade; and,
therefore, he quitted Mr. Senex, and took chambers at
Gray’s-inn, where he chiefly resided during the rest of his
days. The first edition of the “Cyclopædia,
” which was
the result of many years intense application, appeared in.
1728, in 2 vols. folio. It was published by subscription,
the price being 4l. 4s.; and the list of subscribers was very
numerous. The dedication, to the king, is dated Oct. 15,
1727. The reputation that Mr. Chambers acquired by his
execution of this undertaking, 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. It having been intended, at first, to give a new
work instead of a new edition, Mr. Chambers had prepared
a considerable part of the copy with that view, and more
than twenty sheets were actually printed off. The purpose
of the proprietors, according to this plan, was to have
published a volume in the winter of 1737, and to have
proceeded annually in supplying an additional volume, till
the whole was completed. But from this design they were
diverted, by the alarm they took at an act then agitated in
parliament, in which a clause was contained, obliging the
publishers of all improved editions of books to print the
improvements separately. The bill, which carried in it
the appearance of equity, but which, perhaps, might have
created greater obstructions to the cause of literature than
a transient view of it could suggest, passed the house of
commons, but was rejected in the house of lords. In an
advertisement prefixed to the second edition of the “Cyclopaedia,
” Mr. Chambers endeavoured to obviate the complaints of such readers as might have been led to expect
(from a paper of his published some time before) a newwork, instead of a new edition. So favourable was the
public reception of the second edition of Chambers’s dictionary, that a third was called for in the very next year,
1739; a fourth two years afterwards, in 1741; and a fifth
in 1746. This rapid sale of so large and expensive a work,
is not easily to be paralleled in the history of literature:
and must be considered, not only as a striking testimony
of the general estimation in which it is held, but likewise
as a strong proof of its real utility and merit.