Robert Chambers blue plaque

This blue commemorative plaque records: Robert Chambers, LLD (St A), FRSE, 1802-1971. First came to St. Andrews in 1842. He built this house and lived here from 1863-71. He had to leave school at 14, but he loved learning. His wish to spread knowledge led him and brother William in 1832 to found the firm of W and R Chambers, which was to become, for a time a time, the most successful publishing house in the English-speaking world. Robert wrote books on many subjects and some of the earliest text books for schools. In 1844, written anonymously, "Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation", fundamentally a theory of evolution, anticipated Darwin by 15 years. His great work was the 10 volume "Encyclopedia, A Dictionary of Universal Knowledge for the People".