 Some long articles were carried over from the 7th edition, but most were completely re-written, and new articles by illustrious contributors were added.In all, there were 344 contributors, including Lord Macaulay, Charles Kingsley, Robert Chambers, the Rev.Charles Merivale, Dr. Joseph Dalton Hooker, Baron Robert Bunsen, Sir John Herschel, Professors Richard Owen, John Stuart Blackie and William Thomson (Lord Kelvin).