A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen

Glasgow : Blackie and Son , 1853. Cloth. Good. 9.5" by 6.5". None. A uniformly bound set of biographical explorations into notable Scottish figures live's. New edition, revised throughout. Originally complete in four volumes, although this set is bound into six. Containing div.IV.Fordyce-Horner; div.V. Horner-Lesley; div.VI. Lesley-Ramsey; div.VII. Ramsey-Wilson; div.VIII. Wilson-Young. Abercrombie-Hepburn; div.IX. Heriot-Wood. Unfortunately lacking div.II.Brown-Dalrymple; div.III. Dalrymple-Fordyce; and the supplement volume which was published two years later. Featuring fifty-eight engraved portraits, and the original engraved title pages of volume III, IV, and V. Robert Chambers was a Scottish publisher, geologist, evolutionary thinker, author and journal editor who, like his elder brother and business partner William Chambers, was highly influential in mid-19th century scientific and political circles. During the 1830s, Robert Chambers took a particularly keen interest in the then rapidly expanding field of geology, and he was elected a fellow of the Geological Society of London in 1844. Prior to this, he was elected a member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1840, which connected him through correspondence to numerous scientific men. William later recalls that "His mind had become occupied with speculative theories which brought him into communication with Sir Charles Bell, George Combe, his brother Dr. Andrew Combe, Dr. Neil Arnott, Professor Edward Forbes, Dr. Samuel Brown, and other thinkers on physiology and mental philosophy." His other works include Scottish Songs, Scottish Jests and Anecdotes, and Twelve Romantic Scottish Ballads. With the original publishers advertisement's bound into the rear of three volumes. In cloth bindings with gilt design to the spines and front boards. Externally, rubbed with wear to spines and bumping. Six hinges are very slightly strained. Internally, all volumes are firmly bound and bright throughout. Occasional instances of spotting. Many pages are uncut. Good