Sir Thomas Chaloner the Elder, of Steeple Claydon was born about 1521. He was a diplomat and scholar who served under four Tudor monarchs. He fought by the side of the Emperor Charles V., in Algiers where he escaped from drowning off the coast in 1541. He was knighted after fighting in England's defeat of the Scots at the Battle of Pinkie, near Musselburgh in 1547 and was granted the manor of Steeple Claydon. He stood high in the favour of Henry VIII who made him first clerk of the council. Queen Elizabeth marked her appreciation of his abilities by sending him as ambassador, first to Ferdinand, Emperor of Germany, and afterwards to Philip, of Spain, 1562 - 1565. He was a man of letters as well as a soldier, and published several poems, and books. Today he is primarily remembered as the first English translator of 'The Praise Of Folly' by Desiderius Erasmus. He died about 1565. He married Ethelreda Frodsham.
Surveyor of Denbigh Castle.
His appointment as Ulster King of Arms he received on the very day that he died, viz. 14 May 1598.
12. Jacob Chaloner
Jacob Chaloner, like his father Thomas, was an Arms Painter at Chester. Jacob became a well-known
heraldic agent, painter and collector of pedigrees, and eventually moved to London, where he died in 1631.