After looking down from his plinth for 125 years William Chambers was carted away on a lorry this afternoon.  With his brother, Robert, he was the founder of one of the largest English language publishers in the world and the world renowned Chambers Encyclopaedia.  The two brothers printed affordable books and periodicals with an emphasis on education, science and reference which have been described as the internet of the day.    As Lord Provost, William was also instrumental in the passing of the 1867 Improvement Act, which paved the way for extensive slum clearance in Edinburgh’s Old Town and for making improvements to public health administration.
When William is returned to Chambers Street in the summer he will be joined by a statue of William Playfair who also played an extremely important part in improving Edinburgh’s architecture.  They will overlook a new plaza which is being created to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the adjacent National Museum of Scotland.