Chaloner Chute facts for kids
Chaloner Chute I (who passed away on April 14, 1659) was an important English lawyer and politician. He lived at a grand house called The Vyne in Hampshire. During a time in English history known as the Commonwealth, he became a Member of Parliament and even served as the Speaker of the House of Commons.
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Early Life and Family
Chaloner Chute was the son of Charles Chute, who was also a lawyer. His mother was Ursula Chaloner. His family lived in Fulham, Middlesex.
A Famous Lawyer
Chaloner Chute became a lawyer and quickly gained a great reputation. He was known for defending people in important court cases. Some of the famous people he defended included Sir Edward Herbert, who was the king's attorney-general, and Archbishop Laud. He also defended several members of Parliament who were accused by the army. His skills made him a very respected lawyer.
Building a Home: The Vyne
In 1653, Chaloner Chute bought a very large and old house called The Vyne in Hampshire. It was a Tudor manor house, which means it was built during the time of the Tudor kings and queens.
The house was quite old and needed work. Chaloner Chute decided to make some big changes. He removed parts of the old building. He also hired a famous architect named John Webb. Webb added a special entrance called a portico to the front of the house. This was one of the first times such a feature was added to an English country house.
A Leader in Parliament
Chaloner Chute became involved in politics. He was elected as a Member of Parliament for Middlesex in 1656. However, he was not allowed to take his seat in Parliament at that time.
He was elected again for Middlesex in 1659. This time, he became the first Speaker of that Parliament. The Speaker is like the leader of the debates in the House of Commons. Sadly, Chaloner Chute had to step down from this important role soon after because he became ill. He passed away in April 1659.
Family Life
Chaloner Chute was married twice.
- His first wife was Anne Skory. They had one son and two daughters:
- Chaloner Chute II (1632-1666) was his son and heir. He also became a Member of Parliament.
- Anne Chute
- Cecilia Chute
- His second wife was Dorothy North. They did not have any more children together.
Memorial
A beautiful memorial was created to remember Chaloner Chute. It was ordered by one of his descendants, Sir John Chute, in 1775. The memorial was designed by a sculptor named Thomas Carter the Younger. It is made from Carrera marble and can be found in the chapel at The Vyne.
See also
- Charles Herbert Cottrell (a descendant)
