Chapter Centlivre to Chambers of C by Biographical Dictionary of English Literature

Chamberlayne, William (1619-1689).—Poet, practised medicine at Shaftesbury. On the outbreak of the Civil War he joined the Royalists and fought at the second battle of Newbury. He wrote a play, Love’s Victory (1658), and an epic Pharonnida (1659). With occasional beauties he is, in the main, heavy and stiff, and is almost forgotten. He influenced Keats.

Chambers, Robert (1802-1871).—Historical and scientific writer, was born at Peebles. Early dependent on his own exertions, he started business as a bookseller in Edinburgh at the age of 16, devoting all his spare time to study, to such purpose that in 1824 he published Traditions of Edinburgh, a work in which he had the assistance of Sir W. Scott. Thereafter he poured forth a continuous stream of books and essays on historical, social, antiquarian, and scientific subjects. He joined his brother William (q.v.) in establishing the publishing firm of W. and Robert Chambers, and in starting Chambers’s Journal, to which he was a constant contributor. Later ventures were The Cyclopædia of English Literature (1842- 44), of which several edition have appeared (last 1903-6), and Chambers’s Cyclopædia (10 vols. 1859- 68; new 1888-92). Among his own works may be mentioned Vestiges of Creation, pub. anonymously (1844), a precursor of Darwinism, A Life of Burns (1851), Popular Rhymes of Scotland (1847), History of the Rebellions in Scotland, Domestic Annals of Scotland (1859-61), Ancient Sea Margins (1848), Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen and The Book of Days (1863). He was LL.D. of St. Andrews.