CHAMBERS, ROBERT ( 1802-71 ) . A Scotch publisher and author, horn at Peebles. Scot land, July 10, 1802. He attended the grammar school, where he learned Latin; and at home read through the fourth edition of the Pncyeloprdia Britan»ica. The family moved to Edinburgh in 1813, where, live year.: later, Hobert set up as a book-seller, read extensively, and began writing.
his Traditions of Edinburgh (1S23) procured him the friendship of Sir Walter Scott, who con tributed various memoranda for the work. it was followed by a large number of hooks, among are Popular Rhymes of Seollaml (1820, Picture of Scotland (18261, and History of the Rs hellions in Scotland ( 1828-29). lle also edited Scottish Ballads and Songs (1829), the Bio praphieal Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen (4 vols., 1532-30, and many other collections. The of Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, found ed in 1832 by his brother. Chambers, was
materially promoted by his many essays, moral and humorous. ills great work, however, is the 'Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation, pub anonymously in 1541. It is a brilliant ex position of development in the natural world, and it prepared the puldie for the theories of Among his later works are Ancient Sea Margins ( 1548 ) , Life and Works of Robert Burns (1851). Domestic Animals of Srotland (1859-61). and The Book of Days, a miscellany (1563). Ever since 1532, he had been a member of the firm of William and Robert Chambers. printers and pub lishers. In 1863 he received from Saint. An drews the degree of LL.D. Ile died Starch 17, 1871. A collection of his miscellaneous papers appeared in seven volumes (1S47).