CHALONER, Sir Thomas, the younger, though considerable as an author, deserves to be recorded as a skilful naturalist, in an age when natural history was very little understood in this or any other country; and particularly as the founder of the alum works in Yorkshire, which have since proved exceedingly advantageous 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 Burghley, taking charge of his education, sent him to St Paul's school, and afterwards to Magdalen College in Oxford, where, like his father, he discovered considerable 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 at the court of Queen Elizabeth. About this time he married the daughter of Sir William Fleetwood, recorder of London. In 1591 he was knighted; and, some time afterwards, discovered the alum mines on his estate at Gisborough, near the river Tees, in Yorkshire.
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 that monarch, that he was immediately appointed governor to Prince Henry, whom he constantly attended; and when his royal pupil visited Oxford, he 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 Middlesex. His eldest son William was created a baronet in the year 1640; but the title became extinct in 1681. He wrote, 1. Dedication to Lord Burghley, 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, 4to.