CHALONER (Sir Thomas) the younger, though inconsiderable as an author, deserves to be recorded as a skilful naturalist, in an age wherein natural history was
Chaloner] very little understood in this or any other country; and
Cham. particularly as the founder of the alum-works in York-
shire, which have since proved so exceedingly advan-
tageous to the commerce of this kingdom. He was
the only son of Sir Thomas Chaloner mentioned in the
last article, and was born in the year 1559. Being
very young at the time of his father's death, the lord
treasurer Burleigh taking charge of his education, sent
him to St Paul's school, and afterwards to Magdalen
college in Oxford, where, like his father, he disco-
vered extraordinary talents for Latin and English
poetry. About the year 1580, he made the tour of
Europe, and returned to England before 1584; for,
in that year, we find him a frequent attendant in the
court of queen Elizabeth. About this time he mar-
ried the daughter of Sir William Fleetwood, recorder
of London. In 1591 he was knighted; and, some
time after, discovered the alum-mines on his estate at
Gisborough, near the river Tees in Yorkshire (A).
Towards the latter end of the queen's reign, Sir
Thomas visited Scotland; and returning to England in
the retinue of king James I. found such favour in the
sight of his majesty, that he was immediately appointed
governor to prince Henry, whom he constantly at-
tended, and, when his royal pupil visited Oxford, was
honoured with the degree of master of arts. How he
was employed after the death of the prince is not
known. Some years before that event, he married
a second wife, the daughter of Mr William Blount of
London, by whom he had some children. He died in
the year 1615, and was buried at Chiswick in Middle-
sex. His eldest son William was created a baronet
in the 18th of James anno 1620. The title was extinct
in 1681. He wrote, 1. Dedication to Lord Burleigh
of his father's poetical works, dated 1579. 2. The
virtue of nitre, wherein is declared the sundry cures by
the same effected. Lond. 1584, 410.