English Cyclopaedia

The English Cyclopaedia: A new dictionary of universal knowledge (London, 1854–1862, 4to, 23 vols., 12,117 pages; supplements, 1869–1873, 4 vols., 2858 pages), was published by Charles Knight, based on the Penny Cyclopaedia, of which he had the copyright. He was assisted by Alexander Ramsay and James Thorne.

It is in four divisions, each alphabetical, and very unequal:

1. Geography (4 volumes and supplement)
2. Natural history (4 volumes and supplement)
3. Biography (with 703 lives of living persons; 6 volumes and supplement)
4. Arts and sciences (8 volumes and supplement)

The synoptical index, 168 pages, has four columns on a page, one for each division, so that the order is alphabetical and yet the words are classed.