Everything about Ephraim Chambers totally explained
Ephraim Chambers (c
1680 -
15 May 1740), was an
English writer and
encyclopedist, who is primarily known for producing the
Cyclopaedia, or Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences.
Early life
Chambers was born in
Kendal,
Westmorland, England, and attended
Heversham Grammar School there. Little is known of his early life, other than that he was apprenticed to a globe-maker,
John Senex, in
London from 1714-1721. It was here that he developed the plan of the
Cyclopaedia, or Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences. However, after beginning the Cyclopedia, he left Senex's service and devoted himself entirely to the encyclopedia project. He also took chambers in
Gray's Inn, where he remained for the rest of his life (Espinasse 2004).
Cyclopaedia
The first edition of the
Cyclopedia appeared by subscription in
1728, in two
folio volumes, and was dedicated to the King. The encyclopedia was subsequently republished and expanded several times. See the
Cyclopedia article for a complete printing history.
The Cyclopedia provided the inspiration for the landmark
Encyclopédie of
Denis Diderot and
Jean le Rond d'Alembert, which began as a
French translation of Chambers' work that was begun in 1743 and finished in 1745 by
John Mills, assisted by
Gottfried Sellius.
Other writing
In addition to the
Cyclopaedia, Chambers 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) (Espinasse 2004, Britannica 1911).
Epitaph
Chambers died on May 15, 1740. He was buried in the cloisters of
Westminster Abbey (Espinasse 2004). His epitaph 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."
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