(Sir Thomas), a statesman, soldier, and poet, descended from a good family in Denbigh in Wales, was born at London about the year 1515. Having been educated in both universities, but chiefly at Cambridge, he was introduced at the court of Henry VIII. who sent him abroad in the retinue of Sir Henry Knevett ambassador to Charles V. and he had the honour to attend that monarch on his fatal expedition against Algiers in 1541. Soon after the fleet left that place, he was shipwrecked on the coast of Barbary in a very dark night; and having exhausted his strength by swimming, he chanced to strike his head against a cable, which he had the presence of mind to catch hold of with his teeth; and, with the loss of several of them, was drawn up by it into the ship to which he belonged. Mr Chaloner returned soon after to England, and was appointed first clerk of the council, which office he held during the reign of that reign. On the accession of Edward VI. he became a favourite of the Duke of Somerset, whom he attended to Scotland, and was knighted by that nobleman after the battle of Muffelburgh, in 1547. The protector's fall put a stop to Sir Thomas Chaloner's expectations, and involved him in difficulties. During the reign of queen Mary, being a determined protestant, he was in some danger; but having many powerful friends, he had the good fortune to escape. On the accession of queen Elizabeth, he appeared again at Court; and was so immediately distinguished by her Majesty, that she appointed him ambassador to the emperor Ferdinand I., being the first ambassador she nominated. His commission was of great importance; and the queen was so well satisfied with his conduct, that, soon after his return, she sent him in the same capacity to Spain; but Sir Thomas was by no means satisfied with this instance of her majesty's confidence: the courts of England and Spain being at this time extremely dissatisfied with each other, he foresaw that his situation would be very disagreeable; and so it proved; but Elizabeth must be obeyed. He embarked for Spain in 1561, and returned to London in 1564, in consequence of a request to his sovereign, in an elegy written in imitation of Ovid. After his return, he resided in a house built by himself in Clerkenwell-closet, where he died in the year 1565, and was buried in St Paul's. Sir William Cecil affixed as chief mourner at his funeral.

So various were the talents of Sir Thomas Chaloner, that he excelled in every thing to which he applied himself. He made a considerable figure as a poet. His poetical works were published by William Malim, master of St Paul's school, in 1579. His capital work was that "Of restoring the English republic, in ten books," which he wrote when he was ambassador in Spain. It is remarkable, that this great man, who knew how to transact as well as write upon the most important affairs of states and kingdoms, could defend to compose a dictionary for children, and to translate from the Latin a book Of the office of Servants, merely for the utility of the subjects.

(Sir Thomas) the younger, though inconsiderable as an author, deserves to be recorded as a skilful naturalist, in an age wherein 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 so 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 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 discovered 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 married 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 attended, and, when his royal pupil visited Oxford, was honoured with the degree of matter 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 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, 4to.