Sir William Chambers
*23. 2. 1723 – Göteborg, Sweden
†10. 3. 1796 – London, United Kingdom
Biography
Sir William Chambers RA was a Swedish-Scottish architect active in London, among whose most famous works are Somerset House and the pagoda in Kew Gardens. In 1768 he was a founding member of the Royal Academy. From 1740 to 1749, he was employed by the Swedish East India Company and undertook three journeys to China, where he studied local architecture. Upon his return to Europe, he studied architecture in Paris under J. F. Blondel and spent five years in Italy. He then moved to London in 1755, where he established an architectural practice. In 1757, on the recommendation of Lord Bute, he was appointed architectural teacher to the Prince of Wales, the future George III, and in 1766 he was also appointed architect to the king along with Robert Adam (this was an unofficial title, not an actual paid position in the Office of Works). He worked for Augusta, the Dowager Princess of Wales, on the creation of fanciful garden structures in Kew Gardens.
His more serious and academic Treatise on Civil Architecture published in 1759 proved influential to builders. It dealt more with the use of classical orders and provided suggestions for decorative elements rather than focusing on construction and planning; for the third edition it was renamed Treatise on the Decorative Parts of Civil Architecture. It included ideas from the works of many Italian architects of the 16th and 17th centuries, who were still little known in Britain at the time. His influence extended to several younger architects who trained in his office as pupils, including Thomas Hardwick (1752-1825), who assisted him in building Somerset House and who wrote his biography.
He was a major rival of Adam in British neoclassicism. Chambers had a more international perspective (his knighthood was originally a Swedish honor) and was influenced by continental neoclassicism when designing for British clients. From 1758 to the mid-1770s, he focused on building houses for the nobility, starting with a house for Lord Bessborough in Roehampton. In 1766, Chambers was elected a foreign member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
Since 1761, he held an unofficial role as joint royal architect, then was promoted to his first official position in the Office of Works, and from 1769 to 1782 he was the Comptroller of Royal Works, his final promotion placed him at the head, and from 1782 he was the General Inspector and Comptroller, a position he held until his death.
Chambers played an important role in establishing the Royal Academy, where he was appointed the first treasurer.
Sir William Chambers RA was a Swedish-Scottish architect active in London, among whose most famous works are Somerset House and the pagoda in Kew Gardens. In 1768 he was a founding member of the Royal Academy. From 1740 to 1749, he was employed by the Swedish East India Company and undertook three journeys to China, where he studied local architecture. Upon his return to Europe, he studied architecture in Paris under J. F. Blondel and spent five years in Italy. He then moved to London in 1755, where he established an architectural practice. In 1757, on the recommendation of Lord Bute, he was appointed architectural teacher to the Prince of Wales, the future George III, and in 1766 he was also appointed architect to the king along with Robert Adam (this was an unofficial title, not an actual paid position in the Office of Works). He worked for Augusta, the Dowager Princess of Wales, on the creation of fanciful garden structures in Kew Gardens.
His more serious and academic Treatise on Civil Architecture published in 1759 proved influential to builders. It dealt more with the use of classical orders and provided suggestions for decorative elements rather than focusing on construction and planning; for the third edition it was renamed Treatise on the Decorative Parts of Civil Architecture. It included ideas from the works of many Italian architects of the 16th and 17th centuries, who were still little known in Britain at the time. His influence extended to several younger architects who trained in his office as pupils, including Thomas Hardwick (1752-1825), who assisted him in building Somerset House and who wrote his biography.
He was a major rival of Adam in British neoclassicism. Chambers had a more international perspective (his knighthood was originally a Swedish honor) and was influenced by continental neoclassicism when designing for British clients. From 1758 to the mid-1770s, he focused on building houses for the nobility, starting with a house for Lord Bessborough in Roehampton. In 1766, Chambers was elected a foreign member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
Since 1761, he held an unofficial role as joint royal architect, then was promoted to his first official position in the Office of Works, and from 1769 to 1782 he was the Comptroller of Royal Works, his final promotion placed him at the head, and from 1782 he was the General Inspector and Comptroller, a position he held until his death.
Chambers played an important role in establishing the Royal Academy, where he was appointed the first treasurer.
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