Dictionary of National Biography, 1901 supplement/Chambers, Robert (1832-1888)
CHAMBERS, ROBERT (1832–1888), publisher, son of Robert Chambers [q. v.] and nephew of William Chambers [q. v.], was born at Edinburgh in March 1832, and was educated at Circus Place school and in London. 'Lines to a little Boy,' which were addressed to him by his father, appeared in 'Chambers's Edinburgh Journal' for 14 March 1840.
Chambers became a member of the publishing firm in 1853, and in 1862 wrote an excellent book on golfing ('A Few Rambling Remarks on Golf'). A poem on St. Andrews links was the joint work of Chambers and his father. In 1874, on the resignation of James Payn [q. v. Suppl.], he became editor of 'Chambers's Journal;' he occasionally contributed papers, and he conducted the magazine with great success. On the death of his uncle William in 1883, the whole responsibility of the publishing house devolved upon him, but he was assisted during the last two or three years of his life by his eldest son, Charles Chambers. He took an active part in the production of the first edition of 'Chambers's Encyclopædia' (1859-68), and helped in the preliminary work in connection with the new edition. He also assisted Alexander Ireland [q. v. Suppl.] in the preparation of the 1884 edition of his father's 'Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation,' in which was given the first authoritative information of the authorship. Chambers was for long in delicate health, and spent most of his time at North Berwick or St. Andrews. He died of an affection of the heart on 23 March 1888 at his house in Claremout Crescent, Edinburgh. He was a member of the St. Giles's Cathedral board, and, like his uncle, took much interest in the church. He was liberal-minded, and, with his genial temperament and fine burly frame, was very popular with his workmen and friends. By his marriage in 1856 with a daughter of Mr. Murray Anderson of London, he had three sons and three daughters, all of whom survived him.
[Athenæum, 31 March 1888; Scotsman, 23 March 1888; Glasgow Herald, 26 March 1888; Memoir of William and Robert Chambers, 13th ed. 1884.]