CHAMBERS, WiLttAm (1800-83). A Scoteh publisher and author, elder brother of Robert Chambers. He was born at Peebles. April 16, 1800. and as a boy and youth passed throurb ex periences similar to his brother's. Ile bus as a bookseller in Edinburgh (IS19) and afterward added printing. Between 1825 and 1830 he wrote the Book of Scotland, jointly with his brother, the of February 4. 1832. he issued the first number of Chambers's Edinburgh 'Journal, the first of a class of popular periodicals of a wholesome kind, now so generally diffused. From the first the NTH tore was a success, and soon the circulation of the weekly journal reached 80.000. The two brothers now (1532) established the firm of W. & R. Chambers, in which they were united in writing, editing, and printing a long series of works designed for popular instruction. Among them are Information for the People (2 vols.); the Educational Course (250 vols.) ; Cyclopw dia of English Literature (2 vols.) ; Miscellany of Useful and Entertaining Tracts (20 vols.) ; Papers for the People (12 vols.) : and the well known Cyclopmlia (10 vols.. 1859-68). in con ducting these laborious undertakings, the firm necessarily depended upon many assistant s.
Among William Chambers's independent works are, 'Things as They Arc in America (the result of a visit to the United States in 1853) : The Youth's Companion and Counsellor; Ilistory of Peebleshire; Ailie Gilroy; Stories of Remarkable Persons; Stories of Old Families: and His torical Sketch of Saint Giles's Cathedral. In 1849 be acquired the estate of Glenormiston in Peehleshire, and a few years afterwards founded and endowed an institution in his native town for social improvement. Twice elected Lord Provost of Edinburgh, he occupied that office for four years (1865-69). during which he pro moted several important public acts, including one for the improvement of the older part of the city. in recognition of his great services, the University of Edinburgh conferred upon him the degree of LL.D. (1872). lie died :May 20. 1883. and RonEaT CHAMBERS (1832-18881, eldest son of the Robert Chambers named above, became ed itor of the ,towns/ and head of the firm. On his death. in ISSS, he was in turn succeeded by his