Ephraim Chambers | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1680 Kendal,Westmorland,England |
| Died | 15 May 1740(1740-05-15) (aged 59–60) Islington,England |
| Occupation | Encyclopaedist,publisher |
| Genre | Non-fiction |
Ephraim Chambers (c. 1680 – 15 May 1740) was an English writer andencyclopaedist, who is primarily known for producing theCyclopaedia, or an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences.[1] Chambers'Cyclopædia is known as the original source material for the FrenchEncyclopédie that started off as a translation ofCyclopædia.[2]
Chambers was born inMilton near Kendal,Westmorland, England. Little is known of his early life but he attended Heversham Grammar School,[3] then was apprenticed to aglobe maker,John Senex, in London from 1714 to 1721. It was here that he developed the plan of theCyclopaedia, or an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences. After beginning theCyclopaedia, he left Senex's service and devoted himself entirely to the encyclopedia project.[4] He also took lodging inGray's Inn, where he remained for the rest of his life.[5] Chambers died inCanonbury House inIslington and was buried in the cloisters ofWestminster Abbey.[5][6]
The first edition of theCyclopaedia appeared by subscription in 1728 and was dedicated toGeorge II, King of Great Britain.[4] When he died in 1740, he left materials for a Supplement; edited byGeorge Lewis Scott, this was published in 1753.[7]
He also wrote for, and possibly edited, theLiterary 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 thePractice of Perspective from the French of Jean Dubreuil. He also worked withJohn Martyn to translate theHistory and Memoirs of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris (1742).[5][8]
Chambers'epitaph, written by himself, was published in both the original Latin and in English in theGentleman'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.
TheEncyclopédie ofDiderot andd'Alembert owed its inception to a French translation of Chambers's work.
Attribution:
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Chambers, Ephraim".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 5 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 820.