Robert Ewbank Chambers was born in Newcastle-on-Tyne on 23 April 1790. He was the eldest son of Richard Chambers, Mayor of Newcastle. He was posted as cornet in the 8th Native Cavalry on 31 Mar 1806, and promoted to lieutenant on 27 Feb 1812. He was appointed Interpreter and QM from Nov 1814 to May 1819, promoted to captain on 1 Jan 1819. He fought at Nagpore in 1817, in the 3rd Maharatta War. In 1824 he transferred to the newly raised 1st Extra BLC that became the 9th BLC on 17 June 1825. He was at the siege of Bhurtpore where he was severely wounded in the hand on 27 Dec 1825.
He was promoted to Major on 9 Sep 1829 and lieutenant-colonel on 10 Oct 1836. He commanded the 9th BLC from 17 Jan 1837 to 25 Dec 1838, and transferred to the 5th BLC on 11 Dec 1838. He served in the First Afghan War and was in command at the defeat of the Ghilzais at Karatu on 5 Aug 1841.
On 13 Sep 1826, Captain Chambers married Ellen Mary Frances Margaret Yeld at Benares. She died in 1881. Lt-Col Chambers was killed in action in the Jagdalak Pass during the retreat from Kabul. He died on 12 Jan 1842.
