John Chamberlayne

John Chamberlayne (c.1668–1723) was an English writer, translator, and courtier.^[1]

He was a younger son of Edward Chamberlayne and his wife Susannah Clifford. In 1685 he entered Trinity College, Oxford as a commoner.^[1]

Leaving Oxford without a degree, he proceeded to the University of Leyden, where on 12 May 1688 he entered himself as a student.^[2] Here, it would seem, he chiefly studied modern languages,^[3] of which, according to contemporary report, he knew sixteen. On his return he filled various offices about the court. He was successively gentleman waiter to Prince George of Denmark, gentleman of the Privy Chamber first to Queen Anne and then to King George I. He was also secretary to Queen Anne's Bounty Commission, and on the commission of the peace for Middlesex. In 1702 Chamberlayne was elected a fellow of the Royal Society.^[4]

Chamberlayne died at his house in Petty-France (now York Street), Westminster on 2 November 1723, and on 6 November was interred in the family burying-ground at Chelsea, where he had a residence, and where on his church wall a tablet was placed to his memory.^[4]

Chamberlayne's major work was his translation of Gerard Brandt's History of the Reformation in the Low Countries, 4 vols. 1720–3. In the preface to a part of this, published in 1719, he relates that Gaspar Fagel assured Gilbert Burnet "that it was worth his while to learn Dutch, only for the pleasure of reading Brandt's History of the Reformation". Chamberlayne also continued his father's Present State of England after his death in 1703, and issued five editions. The son's name still appeared on editions that were published after his own death (as late as 1756).^[4]

He also published translations of:^[4]

• Samuel von Pufendorf's History of Popedom, containing the Rise, Progress, and Decay thereof, 1691
• The Lord's Prayer, as Oratio Dominica in diversas omnium fere gentium linguas versa, Amsterdam, 1715
• Filósofo religioso de Bernard Nieuwentyt , o el uso correcto de la contemplación de las obras del Creador , 3 vols., 1718.
• Vidas de los filósofos franceses de Bernard Le Bovier de Fontenelle , 1721; y
• Disertaciones históricas, críticas, teológicas y morales de Jacques Saurin sobre los acontecimientos más memorables del Antiguo y del Nuevo Testamento , 1723.

En 1685 publicó una traducción de * The Manner of making Coffee, Tea, and Chocolate as it is used in most parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, with their Vertues* , de Philippe Sylvestre Dufour . Este tratado se hizo popular. Desde Oxford, el 24 de junio de 1686, fechó su traducción de * A Treasure of Health*, de Castor Durante Da Gualdo , médico y ciudadano de Roma ( Il Tesoro della Sanità , 1586). ^{[ 4 ]}

Chamberlayne contribuyó con tres artículos a Philosophical Transactions : ^{[ 4 ]}

• Relación de los efectos de una tormenta de truenos y relámpagos en Sampford Courtney, Devonshire, el 7 de octubre de 1711 (n.º 336, pág.  528).
• Observaciones sobre la peste en Copenhague en el año 1711 (n.º 337, pág.  279).
• Relato de la isla hundida en Humber (n.º 361, pág.  1014).

En los Manuscritos Sloane se encuentran cartas de Chamberlayne sobre los asuntos de la Royal Society. También fue miembro de la Sociedad para la Propagación del Conocimiento Cristiano y tradujo para ellos los Argumentos del Libro y Capítulos del Antiguo y Nuevo Testamento de Jean-Frédéric Osterwald , 3 vols. 1716; nueva ed. 3 vols. 1833. ^{[ 4 ]}

Atribución

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Stephen, Leslie, ed. (1887). "Chamberlayne, John". Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 10. London: Smith, Elder & Co.