Sir Thomas, a statesman and poet, descended from a noble family in Wales, was born in London about the year 1515, and educated at Cambridge. He was introduced at the court of Henry VIII., and sent on the English embassy to the court of Charles V., whom he attended in his ill-fated expedition against Algiers in 1541. Soon after the fleet left Algiers, he was shipwrecked by night on the coast of Barbary, but had the good fortune when swimming to catch hold of a cable, by which he was drawn up into his own ship. Mr Chaloner returned soon after to England, and was appointed first clerk of the council, an office which he held during the rest of that reign. On the accession of Edward VI. he became a favourite of the Duke of Somerset, and attending that nobleman to Scotland, was knighted by him after the battle of Musselburgh in 1547. The protector's fall, however, at once put a stop to his expectations, and involved him in difficulties. During the reign of Queen Mary, his Protestantism brought him into 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 appointed ambassador to the Emperor Ferdinand I., with marks of distinguished favour. On his return he was sent in the same capacity to Spain, when, on account of the differences which then existed between the two courts, he met with harsh and insolent treatment, which induced him to send a request to the queen for his recal. He returned accordingly in 1564, and resided in London till his death, which took place in the following year. He was buried with great pomp in St Paul's—Sir W. Cecil, then secretary of state, being chief mourner.

Sir Thomas Chaloner was a man of varied talents, and made a considerable figure as a poet.

Principal works.—Poetical Works, edited by Dr William Malim; De Republica Anglorum Institutione, lib. x., written in Spain; The Praise of Folly, from the Latin of Erasmus; In laudem Henrici Octavi Carmen Panegyricum; The Office of Servants, from the Latin of Cognatus; and several other smaller pieces.

Sir Thomas, the younger, though inconsiderable as an author, deserves to be recorded as a skilful naturalist, and particularly as the founder of the alum works in Yorkshire, which have since proved so highly advantageous to the commerce of this kingdom. He was the only son of the preceding, and was born in the year 1559. Being very young at the time of his father's death, the lord treasurer Burghley took charge of his education, and sent him ultimately to 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, when he became a frequent attendant at the court of Queen Elizabeth. 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 rose so high in the estimation of James I. that he was 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. 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, Dedication to Lord Burghley, of his father's poetical works, 1579; The Virtue of Nitre, 4to, Lond. 1584.