author
Sir William Chambers
1723–1796
Best known for Somerset House and the famous pagoda at Kew, this widely traveled 18th-century architect helped shape the grand look of Georgian Britain. His books and designs also introduced British readers to ideas drawn from Chinese architecture and decoration.
1 Audiobook
An Explanatory Discourse by Tan Chet-qua of Quang-chew-fu, Gent.
by Sir William Chambers
About the author
Born in Gothenburg in 1723 to Scottish parents, he spent part of his youth in Yorkshire and then worked for the Swedish East India Company. Those voyages took him to China, an experience that left a lasting mark on his taste and later writing.
After studying architecture in Paris and Italy, he settled in London and became one of the leading architects of the Georgian period. He designed major works including Somerset House and buildings at Kew, served as architectural adviser to King George III, and was a founder member of the Royal Academy.
He also wrote influential books on architecture and decorative design, helping spread both classical and Chinese-inspired ideas to a wider audience. He died in London in 1796, leaving behind a body of work that is still easy to spot in Britain’s public buildings and landscapes.