Ephraim Chambers ( – 15 May 1740) was an English writer and encyclopaedist, who is primarily known for producing the '' Cyclopaedia, or an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences''. Chambers' ''Cyclopædia'' is known as the original source material for the French ''

Encyclopédie , better known as ''Encyclopédie'' (), was a general encyclopedia published in France between 1751 and 1772, with later supplements, revised editions, and translations. It had many writers, known as the Encyclopédistes. It was edited by Denis ...

'' that started off as a translation of ''Cyclopædia.''

Biography

Chambers was born in Milton near Kendal,

Westmorland Westmorland (, formerly also spelt ''Westmoreland''R. Wilkinson The British Isles, Sheet The British IslesVision of Britain/ref>) is an area of North West England which was Historic counties of England, historically a county. People of the area ...

, England. Little is known of his early life but he attended Heversham Grammar School, then was apprenticed to a

globe A globe is a spherical Earth, spherical Model#Physical model, model of Earth, of some other astronomical object, celestial body, or of the celestial sphere. Globes serve purposes similar to maps, but, unlike maps, they do not distort the surface ...

maker, John Senex, in London from 1714 to 1721. It was here that he developed the plan of the '' Cyclopaedia, or an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences''. After beginning the ''Cyclopaedia'', he left Senex's service and devoted himself entirely to the encyclopedia project. He also took lodging in

Gray's Inn The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court (professional associations for barristers and judges) in London. To be called to the bar in order to practise as a barrister in England and Wale ...

, where he remained for the rest of his life. Chambers died in Canonbury House in

Islington Islington ( ) is an inner-city area of north London, England, within the wider London Borough of Islington. It is a mainly residential district of Inner London, extending from Islington's #Islington High Street, High Street to Highbury Fields ...

and was buried in the cloisters of

Westminster Abbey Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is an Anglican church in the City of Westminster, London, England. Since 1066, it has been the location of the coronations of 40 English and British m ...

Writing

The first edition of the ''Cyclopaedia'' appeared by subscription in 1728 and was dedicated to George II, King of Great Britain. When he died in 1740, he left materials for a Supplement; edited by George Lewis Scott, this was published in 1753. He also wrote for, and possibly edited, the ''Literary Magazine'' (1735–1736), which mainly published book reviews. Chambers worked on translating other works in French on perspective and chemistry from 1726 to 1727, including the ''Practice of Perspective'' from the French of Jean Dubreuil. He also worked with John Martyn to translate the ''History and Memoirs of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris'' (1742).

Legacy

Chambers'

epitaph An epitaph (; ) is a short text honoring a deceased person. Strictly speaking, it refers to text that is inscribed on a tombstone or plaque, but it may also be used in a figurative sense. Some epitaphs are specified by the person themselves be ...

, written by himself, was published in both the original Latin and in English in the '' Gentleman's Magazine'', volume 10, as follows (translation is the original): Multis pervulgatus paucis notus Qui vitam inter lucem et umbram Nec eruditus nec idiota Literis deditus transegit, sed ut homo Qui humani nihil a se alienum putat Vita simul et laboribus functus Hic requiescere voluit EPHRAIM CHAMBERS. In English thus: Heard of by many, Known to few, Who led a Life between Fame and Obscurity Neither abounding nor deficient in Learning Devoted to Study, but as a Man Who thinks himself bound to all Offices of Humanity, Having finished his Life and Labours together, Here desires to rest EPHRAIM CHAMBERS. The ''

'' of

Diderot Denis Diderot (; ; 5 October 171331 July 1784) was a French philosopher, art critic, and writer, best known for serving as co-founder, chief editor, and contributor to the along with Jean le Rond d'Alembert. He was a prominent figure during t ...

and

d'Alembert Jean-Baptiste le Rond d'Alembert ( ; ; 16 November 1717 – 29 October 1783) was a French mathematician, mechanics, mechanician, physicist, philosopher, and music theorist. Until 1759 he was, together with Denis Diderot, a co-editor of the ''E ...

owed its inception to a French translation of Chambers's work.

Notes

References

*Bradshaw, Lael Ely. "Ephraim Chambers' Cyclopaedia." In: ''Notable Encyclopedias of the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries: Nine Predecessors of the Encyclopédie''. Ed. Frank Kafker. Oxford: The Voltaire Foundation, 1981. 123–137. *"Mr. Ephraim Chambers." ''The Gentleman's Magazine'' v. 10 (May 1740): p. 262. * Attribution: *

External links