'To take the chair' definitions:

Definition of 'To take the chair'

From: GCIDE

Chair \Chair\ (ch[^a]r), n. [OE. chaiere, chaere, OF. chaiere, chaere, F. chaire pulpit, fr. L. cathedra chair, armchair, a teacher's or professor's chair, Gr. ? down + ? seat, ? to sit, akin to E. sit. See Sit, and cf. Cathedral, chaise.] [1913 Webster]
1. A movable single seat with a back. [1913 Webster]
2. An official seat, as of a chief magistrate or a judge, but esp. that of a professor; hence, the office itself. [1913 Webster]
The chair of a philosophical school. --Whewell. [1913 Webster]
A chair of philology. --M. Arnold. [1913 Webster]
3. The presiding officer of an assembly; a chairman; as, to address the chair. [1913 Webster]
4. A vehicle for one person; either a sedan borne upon poles, or two-wheeled carriage, drawn by one horse; a gig. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Think what an equipage thou hast in air, And view with scorn two pages and a chair. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
5. An iron block used on railways to support the rails and secure them to the sleepers. [1913 Webster]
Chair days, days of repose and age.
To put into the chair, to elect as president, or as chairman of a meeting. --Macaulay.
To take the chair, to assume the position of president, or of chairman of a meeting. [1913 Webster]