Thomas Chaloner (courtier) facts for kids
Sir Thomas Chaloner (1559 – 17 November 1615) was an important English gentleman who worked for the royal family. He was in charge of the "Courtly College" for Prince Henry, the son of King James I. Sir Thomas also brought the way to make alum to England. Alum was a very useful material back then. He was also a Member of Parliament (MP) for St Mawes in 1586 and for Lostwithiel in 1604. His third son, Thomas Chaloner, was a Parliamentarian who later played a part in the trial of King Charles I. Sir Thomas is sometimes mixed up with his cousin, also named Thomas Chaloner, who was a scientist interested in plants and minerals.
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Sir Thomas Chaloner's Early Life
Sir Thomas Chaloner was born in 1559. He was the son of Sir Thomas Chaloner, a well-known statesman and poet, and Ethelreda Frodsham. Sadly, his father passed away in 1565. His mother then married Edward Brocket.
Thomas's education was greatly helped by his father's friend, Lord Burghley. He studied at St Paul's School, London and then at Magdalen College, Oxford. At Oxford, he was known for his talent in writing poetry, but he did not finish his degree.
Travels and Court Life
In 1579, Chaloner wrote a special dedication to Lord Burghley for his father's poetry books. He started traveling in 1580, especially in Italy. There, he became good friends with many smart people of that time.
After three years, he returned home and became a favorite at the royal court. He married Elizabeth, the daughter of William Fleetwood, who was then the Recorder of London. Her sister later married Sir David Foulis, 1st Baronet.
He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for St Mawes in 1586 and for Lostwithiel in 1604. In 1588, he taught Robert Dudley, the son of Robert, Earl of Leicester, at Christ Church, Oxford. He was made a knight in 1591 while serving with the English army in France. In 1592, Chaloner became a justice of the peace for Buckinghamshire. He traveled abroad again in 1596–97, sending letters from Florence to important figures like the Earl of Essex.
Bringing Alum Manufacturing to England
After King Henry VIII closed down the monasteries in 1540, the lands of Gisborough Priory were given to Sir Thomas's father. Later, in the late 1500s, Sir Thomas Chaloner traveled to Italy. He visited places where alum was made in the Papal States.
Alum was a very important product around the world back then. It was used to treat leather, help dyes stick to cloth, and for some medicines. At this time, the Vatican and Spain had almost complete control over making and selling alum. These countries were often in conflict with England.
Discovering Alum in England
Sir Thomas had a cousin, also named Thomas Chaloner, who was a naturalist. This cousin looked for copper and alum in Ireland. He noticed that certain plants grew where minerals for alum were found in the soil.
From this, he realized that the rock used to make alum was similar to rocks found near his cousin Sir Thomas's estate in Guisborough, England. In 1606-07, Sir Thomas Chaloner teamed up with Sir David Foulis and others. They received a special permission to be the only ones to make alum in northern England for 31 years.
Developing the Alum Industry
Over time, a new industry grew in England. It's said that Chaloner secretly brought skilled workers from Italy to England, but this might not be true. Once the alum industry started near Whitby, the English King took control of it. Importing alum from other countries was then banned.
Even though making alum was hard work, England became able to produce all the alum it needed. During King James I's time, Chaloner's alum works faced problems like not making enough money and frequent changes in management. The king stopped foreign alum from coming into England. Later, under King Charles I, the alum mines were claimed by the Crown. They were given to Sir Paul Pindar for a large yearly payment to the king. This industry made a huge profit, even after paying many workers.
Working for King James I
Towards the end of Queen Elizabeth's rule, Sir Robert Cecil asked Chaloner to go to Scotland. There, he became a favorite of King James VI of Scotland. Even important people like Sir Francis Bacon sought his advice.
Chaloner went with King James when he traveled to become the King of England. When they arrived in York, Chaloner led the group that greeted the mayor. Queen Anne put him in charge of her personal lands. In 1603, the king made him the governor for his oldest son, Prince Henry.
Governor of Prince Henry's Household
King James wanted Chaloner to turn Prince Henry's household into what he called "a courtly college." This meant that no gentleman could take the prince out without Chaloner's permission. For being the main official for the prince's 420 servants, Chaloner received a yearly payment.
In 1605, he went with the prince to Oxford University. They chose Magdalen College out of respect for Chaloner. There, he and many other noblemen and gentlemen received a Master of Arts degree.
In 1605, Chaloner was also put in charge of fixing up Kenilworth Castle. This included planting gardens, restoring fish-ponds, and game areas. In 1607, he helped put on a show with "rare fireworks" at a court party.
In 1610, when Prince Henry was given the titles of Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall, Chaloner became his chamberlain. The prince also asked Chaloner to test a plan to get silver from lead. In 1608, he suggested making water pipes from earthenware, saying they would be safer and stronger than metal ones. The king also chose Chaloner to test how well ships could perform.
Chaloner received valuable gifts from the royal family. In 1605, he received 30 ounces of gold-plated items. When one of his children was christened, Prince Henry gave him 168 ounces of gold-plated items. He also received some land from the king.
Sir Thomas Chaloner's Legacy
Sir Thomas Chaloner passed away on November 17, 1615. He left behind properties in Guisborough, Yorkshire, and Steeple Claydon, Buckinghamshire. In the church of St. Nicholas Church, Chiswick, Middlesex, there is a monument with statues of him and his wife. This monument says he was born in 1561, which is a bit different from other records.
John Owen wrote a poem about Chaloner, and Isaac Wake also included a poem about him in his book Rex Platonicus. Chaloner was very generous to the grammar school of St. Bees. In 1608, he gave them a good place to build, along with wood, stone, and coal. He also gave them some land. Even in 1890, there were still two scholarships named after Chaloner at the school.
Family Life
With his first wife, who died in 1603, Sir Thomas had 11 children. These included William, who became a baronet in 1620 but died without marrying. His sons Edward, Thomas, and James were also among them, along with three other sons and four daughters. Chaloner's second wife, Judith Blunt (who died in 1615), was the mother of four sons and three daughters.
Images for kids
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Monument of Sir Thomas Chaloner at St Nicholas Church, Chiswick.
