Ile was afterward* bound apprentice to the master of a brig which nodal in the Mediterranean and the Itiltle seas. During this appren tiowehip be rave adduce of that talent for which he was subsequently sheunguialsell, by making sketches of various descriptions of shipping, for the amusement and gretification of the seamen. Ilia master, Mr. ?Bore, appears to have been Induced by theme efforts to cancel his intlentnnee. mei Chernbers worked hie way home to 11'llitby In another vowel. with the determination of becoming a painter of ship*. At Whitby be know no better way of making himself acquainted with colours than by apprenticing himself to sn old woman who kept a painter's shop. Bet at the Same time that he was plodding his way through the business of a honao-painter, he took lessons from an obscure drawing-master of Whitby, of the name of Bird, and Applied what time he had to sore in painting small pictures of shipping, for which be found at his humble prices a ready market. He carried on this life for three years, when, being anxious to visit London, ho again enteral the seafaring life, and worked his way as foremast-man in a trading vessel to the groat metropolis.
In London, though very poor, ho refused an offer of employment as a journeyman house-painter at thirty shillings per week, being bent upon painting shipping; and ho soon after contrived to obtain con eiderable employment in the representation of ships. Having obtained however an introduction to Mr. Homer, that gentleman employed him for seven years on the great panorama of London at the Colos seum. At the completion of this work he was engaged as scene painter at the Pavilion Theatre. While at this theatre some of his works attracted the notice of Vice-Admiral Lord Mark Kerr, who became sincere patron, and procured him an introduction to King William IV. and Queen Adelaide. The king chose a sea-fight,
and the queen chose a calm coast-scene near Dover. Chambers painted also a view of Greenwich Hospital for the queen, and the 'Opening of New London for the king ; and he received the appointment of Marine-Painter to their Majesties.
He was now reaping the fruits of his persevering industry. Ire had given up his appointment as scene-painter to the Pavilion Theatre, and be was m a fair way of establishing fame and fortune together ; but a constitution originally very weak, and much shattered by n seafaring life, was unable to bear the incessant application his ambitious mind subjected it to, and he gradually fell into a disease which proved fatal to him. He died in October 1840.
Chambers was a member of the Society of Painters in Water-Colours. Ilia chief productions however are his naval battles in oil, in which he was excellent, especially in the construction and rigging of his ships, though in Ins colouring there is an unnatural redness of effect pervading everything, the smoke in particular. There are in the ball of Green wich I leopard three battles by Chambers—' The Bemberduient of Algiers by the Squadron led by Viscount Exmouth, G.C.11., in 1516; presented in 1836 by the admiral's friends; 'Portobello taken by Admiral Vernon and Commodore Brown in 1736; presented iu 1839 by E. H. Locker, Esq., commissioner; and a copy of West's picture of the 'Destruction of the French Fleet ill the Port of La Hogue by Vice-Admiral Sir George Rooke, Kt., in 1692.' (Art-Journal; Catalogue of the Naval Gallery of Greenwich hospital.)