Ephraim Chambers facts for kids

The title page of Ephraim Chambers' Cyclopaedia from 1728.

Ephraim Chambers (born around 1680 – died May 15, 1740) was an English writer. He is most famous for creating the Cyclopaedia, or an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences. This Cyclopaedia was so important that it became the main source for the famous French Encyclopédie. The French Encyclopédie actually started as a plan to translate Chambers' work.

Life of Ephraim Chambers

Ephraim Chambers was born in Milton near Kendal, Westmorland, England. We don't know much about his early life. He went to Heversham Grammar School.

Early Career and the Cyclopaedia

From 1714 to 1721, Chambers worked in London. He was an apprentice to a globe maker named John Senex. An apprentice learns a trade by working for an experienced person. While working there, he started planning his big project. This project was the Cyclopaedia, or an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences.

After he began working on the Cyclopaedia, he left Senex's service. He then spent all his time on the encyclopedia. He also moved into a place called Gray's Inn. He lived there for the rest of his life. Chambers passed away in Canonbury House in Islington. He was buried in Westminster Abbey.

Chambers' Writings and Works

The first version of Chambers' Cyclopaedia came out in 1728. People bought it by subscription. This meant they paid money in advance to receive the book when it was finished. He dedicated this first edition to King George II of Great Britain.

Later Works and Contributions

When Chambers died in 1740, he left behind notes and materials. These were used to create a "Supplement" to his Cyclopaedia. A Supplement adds new information or updates to an existing work. George Lewis Scott edited this Supplement, and it was published in 1753.

Chambers also wrote for a magazine called the Literary Magazine. He might have even been its editor from 1735 to 1736. This magazine mostly shared reviews of new books. He also worked on translating French books into English. From 1726 to 1727, he translated books about perspective and chemistry. One of these was Practice of Perspective by Jean Dubreuil. He also helped John Martyn translate the History and Memoirs of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris in 1742.

Ephraim Chambers' Legacy

Chambers wrote his own epitaph. An epitaph is a short text written on a tombstone. It was published in a magazine called the Gentleman's Magazine. Here is the English translation of his epitaph:

Impact on the French Encyclopédie

Chambers' work had a huge impact. The famous French Encyclopédie was created by Diderot and d'Alembert. This massive project started because they wanted to translate Chambers' Cyclopaedia into French. His work truly inspired one of the most important encyclopedias in history.

See also

• In Spanish: Ephraim Chambers para niños
• Chambers's Encyclopaedia – a work by different authors