John Chamberlayne (c.1668–1723) was an English writer, translator, and courtier.[1]
He was a younger son ofEdward Chamberlayne and his wife Susannah Clifford. In 1685 he enteredTrinity College, Oxford as acommoner.[1]
Leaving Oxford without a degree, he proceeded to theUniversity of Leyden, where on 12 May 1688 he entered himself as a student.[2] Here, it would seem, he chiefly studied modern languages,[3] of which, according to contemporary report, he knew sixteen. On his return he filled various offices about the court. He was successivelygentleman waiter toPrince George of Denmark, gentleman of thePrivy Chamber first toQueen Anne and then toKing George I. He was also secretary toQueen Anne's Bounty Commission, and on the commission of the peace forMiddlesex. In 1702 Chamberlayne was elected a fellow of theRoyal Society.[4]
Chamberlayne died at his house in Petty-France (now York Street), Westminster on 2 November 1723, and on 6 November was interred in the family burying-ground at Chelsea, where he had a residence, and where on his church wall a tablet was placed to his memory.[4]
Chamberlayne's major work was his translation ofGerard Brandt'sHistory of the Reformation in the Low Countries, 4 vols. 1720–3. In the preface to a part of this, published in 1719, he relates thatGaspar Fagel assuredGilbert Burnet "that it was worth his while to learn Dutch, only for the pleasure of reading Brandt'sHistory of the Reformation". Chamberlayne also continued his father'sPresent State of England after his death in 1703, and issued five editions. The son's name still appeared on editions that were published after his own death (as late as 1756).[4]
He also published translations of:[4]
In 1685 he published a translation ofPhilippe Sylvestre Dufour'sThe Manner of making Coffee, Tea, and Chocolate as it is used in most parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, with their Vertues. This tract became popular. From Oxford on 24 June 1686 he dated his translation ofA Treasure of Health byCastor Durante Da Gualdo, Physician and Citizen of Rome (Il Tesoro della Sanità, 1586).[4]
Chamberlayne contributed three papers toPhilosophical Transactions:[4]
In theSloane Manuscripts there are letters from Chamberlayne on the affairs of the Royal Society. He was also a member of theSociety for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge, and translated for themJean-Frédéric Osterwald'sArguments of the Book and Chapters of the Old and New Testament, 3 vols. 1716; new ed. 3 vols. 1833.[4]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Stephen, Leslie, ed. (1887). "Chamberlayne, John".Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 10. London:Smith, Elder & Co.
