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Ephraim Chambers

January 01, 1970

Ephraim Chambers (c. 1680 – 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.[1] Chambers' Cyclopædia is known as the original source material for the French Encyclopédie that started off as a translation of Cyclopædia.[2]

Ephraim Chambers
Bornc. 1680
Kendal, Westmorland, England
Died15 May 1740(1740-05-15) (aged 59–60)
Islington, England
OccupationEncyclopaedist, publisher
GenreNon-fiction
Title page of Chambers' 1728 Cyclopaedia, or an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences

Biography edit

Chambers was born in Milton near Kendal, Westmorland, England. Little is known of his early life but he attended Heversham Grammar School,[3] then was apprenticed to a globe 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.[4] He also took lodging in Gray's Inn, where he remained for the rest of his life.[5] Chambers died in Canonbury House in Islington and was buried in the cloisters of Westminster Abbey.[5][6]

Writing edit

The first edition of the Cyclopaedia appeared by subscription in 1728 and was dedicated to George II, King of Great Britain.[4] When he died in 1740, he left materials for a Supplement; edited by George Lewis Scott, this was published in 1753.[7]

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).[5][8]

Legacy edit

Chambers' epitaph, 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 Encyclopédie of Diderot and d'Alembert owed its inception to a French translation of Chambers's work.

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Robert Lewis Collison reminds us that Chambers attained the distinction of "father of the modern encyclopaedia throughout the world." (Encyclopaedias: Their History Throughout the Ages, 2nd ed., p. 103, Hafner, New York & London, 1966.) cited in University of Wisconsin
  2. ^ Yeo, Richard (2003). "A Solution to the Multitude of Books: Ephraim Chambers's "Cyclopaedia" (1728) as "The Best Book in the Universe"". Journal of the History of Ideas. 64 (1): 63. doi:10.2307/3654296. ISSN 0022-5037. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  3. ^ Humber, R. D. (1968). Heversham: The Story of a Westmorland School and Village. Kendal, England: Titus Wilson & Son.
  4. ^ a b Chisholm 1911.
  5. ^ a b c Espinasse, Francis (1887). "Ephraim Chambers". In Stephen, Leslie (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 10. London: Smith, Elder & Co. pp. 16–17.
  6. ^ Chalmers, Alexander (1812). George Lewis Scott in Chalmer's Biography, Volume 9. London: J. Nichols and Son. pp. 86–87.
  7. ^ Chalmers, Alexander (1813). George Lewis Scott in Chalmer's Biography, Volume 27. Nichols, Son & Bentley. p. 272.
  8. ^ Chisholm 1911, p. 820, lines six and seven "...and translated the History and Memoirs of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris (1742)"

References edit

  • 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.
  • Harris, Michael. "Chambers, Ephraim (1680?–1740)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/5070. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

Attribution:

External links edit

  • Chambers' Cyclopaedia, digitized and placed online by the University of Wisconsin Digital Collections Center
  • cyclopaedia.org

January 01, 1970
ephraim, chambers, 1680, 1740, english, writer, encyclopaedist, primarily, known, producing, cyclopaedia, universal, dictionary, arts, sciences, chambers, cyclopædia, known, original, source, material, french, encyclopédie, that, started, translation, cyclopæd. Ephraim Chambers c 1680 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 1 Chambers Cyclopaedia is known as the original source material for the French Encyclopedie that started off as a translation of Cyclopaedia 2 Ephraim ChambersBornc 1680 Kendal Westmorland EnglandDied15 May 1740 1740 05 15 aged 59 60 Islington EnglandOccupationEncyclopaedist publisherGenreNon fiction Title page of Chambers 1728 Cyclopaedia or an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences Contents 1 Biography 2 Writing 3 Legacy 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksBiography editChambers was born in Milton near Kendal Westmorland England Little is known of his early life but he attended Heversham Grammar School 3 then was apprenticed to a globe 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 4 He also took lodging in Gray s Inn where he remained for the rest of his life 5 Chambers died in Canonbury House in Islington and was buried in the cloisters of Westminster Abbey 5 6 Writing editThe first edition of the Cyclopaedia appeared by subscription in 1728 and was dedicated to George II King of Great Britain 4 When he died in 1740 he left materials for a Supplement edited by George Lewis Scott this was published in 1753 7 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 5 8 Legacy editChambers epitaph 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 Encyclopedie of Diderot and d Alembert owed its inception to a French translation of Chambers s work See also editChambers s Encyclopaedia a work by different authorsNotes edit Robert Lewis Collison reminds us that Chambers attained the distinction of father of the modern encyclopaedia throughout the world Encyclopaedias Their History Throughout the Ages 2nd ed p 103 Hafner New York amp London 1966 cited in University of Wisconsin Yeo Richard 2003 A Solution to the Multitude of Books Ephraim Chambers s Cyclopaedia 1728 as The Best Book in the Universe Journal of the History of Ideas 64 1 63 doi 10 2307 3654296 ISSN 0022 5037 Retrieved 8 March 2023 Humber R D 1968 Heversham The Story of a Westmorland School and Village Kendal England Titus Wilson amp Son a b Chisholm 1911 a b c Espinasse Francis 1887 Ephraim Chambers In Stephen Leslie ed Dictionary of National Biography Vol 10 London Smith Elder amp Co pp 16 17 Chalmers Alexander 1812 George Lewis Scott in Chalmer s Biography Volume 9 London J Nichols and Son pp 86 87 Chalmers Alexander 1813 George Lewis Scott in Chalmer s Biography Volume 27 Nichols Son amp Bentley p 272 Chisholm 1911 p 820 lines six and seven and translated the History and Memoirs of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris 1742 References editBradshaw Lael Ely Ephraim Chambers Cyclopaedia In Notable Encyclopedias of the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries Nine Predecessors of the Encyclopedie Ed Frank Kafker Oxford The Voltaire Foundation 1981 123 137 Mr Ephraim Chambers The Gentleman s Magazine v 10 May 1740 p 262 Harris Michael Chambers Ephraim 1680 1740 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 5070 Subscription or UK public library membership required Attribution nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Chambers Ephraim Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 5 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 820 External links editChambers Cyclopaedia digitized and placed online by the University of Wisconsin Digital Collections Center cyclopaedia org Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ephraim Chambers amp oldid 1167430934, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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