Career
Educated at private schools in Edinburgh, Chessar travelled to London in 1851 to train as a teacher. Early in 1852 she took charge of a class at the Home and Colonial Training College, raising the reputation of the college over the next fifteen years. After ill-health forced her to resign this position in 1866, she occupied her time giving lectures and private tuition.
Her death was caused by cerebral apoplexy, while she was in Brussels for an educational congress.
Chessar edited Mary Somerville"s Physical Geography and William Hughes"s Physical Geography. She was a prolific contributor to The Queen and other newspapers.