Born: Thomas Chaloner, often known as Sir Thomas Chaloner the younger, was born in 1564. His stepfather was Sir Thomas Chaloner the elder, a diplomat and clerk to the Privy Council. His mother was Audrey Frodsham, daughter of Edward Frodsham of Elton in Cheshire. She married Sir Thomas’ stepfather in 1565.
Educated: Thomas was educated at St. Paul’s School, London and Magdalen College, Oxford.
Married: Thomas Chaloner married Elizabeth, daughter of William Fleetwood of London in 1583. She died in 1603. In about 1605 Thomas married Judith, the daughter of William Blunt of London.
Family: Thomas and Elizabeth had eleven children, including Edward Chaloner who became a chaplain to King James I and King Charles I, and Thomas and James Chaloner who were both involved in the proceedings that led to the execution of Charles I. Thomas and his second wife Judith had four sons and three daughters.
Home: As a traveller, royal servant and courtier, Sir Thomas Chaloner must have lived in several places.
Known for: Thomas Chaloner travelled in Europe, especially Italy, between 1580 and 1583. He was knighted in 1591 while serving with the English army. He was part of the escort of King James I when he came from Scotland to be crowned in Westminster and he was appointed governor of the young Prince of Wales. Thomas Chaloner was interested in alchemy. He had visited the pope’s alum works while he was in Italy and in 1600 he discovered alum stone on his estate near Guisborough and began alum mines at Belman Bank. King James I paid him a pension for discovering the mines. Sir Thomas must be regarded as the father of the alum industry of North Yorkshire that was to last until 1871.
Died: Sir Thomas Chaloner the younger died on 18th November 1615 and was buried at Chiswick church in Middlesex.
Further Information: “The Alum Farm” Robert B.Turton (1938): Dictionary of National Biography