Chambers, William (1723-1796)

English architect born in Stockholm, Sweden, to a Scottish merchant. Although he worked in the neo-Palladian style, he was also a popularizer of Chinese influence (for example, the pagoda in Kew Gardens, London, 1762). His best-known work in the neo-Palladian style is Somerset House, London (1776-96), although it was much altered in appearance by the subsequent construction of the Embankment and Waterloo Bridge.

He travelled to China 1743-5 and 1748-9, made drawings there of buildings and costumes, and decided to become an architect. After studying architecture in Italy and Paris he returned to England in 1755, taught architectural drawing to the Prince of Wales (afterwards George III) and published Designs of Chinese Buildings, Furniture, Dresses etc in 1757. In 1761 he was appointed jointly with Robert Adam one of the two official ‘Architects of the Works’ and in 1782 became surveyor-general. The small Casino at Marino near Dublin is perhaps the best of a very long list of public and domestic buildings, which included additions to Trinity College, Dublin.

He was a co-founder of the Royal Academy of Arts, and its first treasurer in 1768. His Treatise on Civil Architecture (1759), became a standard work.

Chambers, William (1800-1883)

Scottish publisher. In 1832 he issued the first number of Chambers's Edinburgh Journal. This led to the founding of the firm of W & R Chambers, and the issue of Chambers's Encyclopaedia (1859-68).

Chambers was born in Peebles, Scotland. In 1813 he was apprenticed to a bookseller in Edinburgh, Scotland. Five years later he started business for himself, afterwards adding printing to the bookselling, and was soon joined by his brother, Robert Chambers. In 1825-30 he wrote the Book of Scotland, and collaborated with Robert on a Gazetteer of Scotland. He was Lord Provost of Edinburgh, 1865-69.