Thomas de Ashton (alchemist)
Encyclopedia
Sir Thomas de Ashton or Assheton (fl.
1446), was an English alchemist
.
Ashton was born in 1403, the son and heir of Sir John de Ashton
, of Ashton-under-Lyne
, who died in 1428. His half-brother Ralph de Ashton
seems to have inherited the main family home, Ashton Hall. From roughly this date, differences appear in the coat of arms, motto and spelling of the two families, indicating that Sir Thomas may have distanced himself from his unpopular half-brother.
to Sir Thomas to transmute the precious metals, and on 7 April 1446 a special order was issued, encouraging two Lancashire knights, Ashton and Sir Edmund de Trafford, to pursue their experiments in alchemy, and forbidding any subject of the king to molest them.
, 10 July 1460, and died in 1508.
Floruit
Floruit , abbreviated fl. , is a Latin verb meaning "flourished", denoting the period of time during which something was active...
1446), was an English alchemist
Alchemist
An alchemist is a person who practices alchemy. Alchemist may also refer to:-People and groups:*The Alchemist , a hip hop music producer and rapper*Alchemist , an Australian progressive metal band...
.
Ashton was born in 1403, the son and heir of Sir John de Ashton
John de Ashton (seneschal)
Sir John de Ashton or Sir John Assheton , was an MP and soldier under King Henry IV and King Henry V.Ashton was the grandson of Sir John de Ashton and his wife, Margary Legh...
, of Ashton-under-Lyne
Ashton-under-Lyne
Ashton-under-Lyne is a market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside, Greater Manchester, England. Historically a part of Lancashire, it lies on the north bank of the River Tame, on undulating land at the foothills of the Pennines...
, who died in 1428. His half-brother Ralph de Ashton
Ralph de Ashton
Sir Ralph de Ashton , was an officer of state under Edward IV of England.-Early life:Ashton was the half-brother of Sir Thomas de Ashton the alchemist [see Ashton or Assheton, Sir Thomas de, fl. 1446], and the son of the Ashton mentioned by Froissart [see Ashton, Sir John de, fl. 1370]. His mother...
seems to have inherited the main family home, Ashton Hall. From roughly this date, differences appear in the coat of arms, motto and spelling of the two families, indicating that Sir Thomas may have distanced himself from his unpopular half-brother.
Alchemy
Permission was granted by Henry VIHenry VI of England
Henry VI was King of England from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. Until 1437, his realm was governed by regents. Contemporaneous accounts described him as peaceful and pious, not suited for the violent dynastic civil wars, known as the Wars...
to Sir Thomas to transmute the precious metals, and on 7 April 1446 a special order was issued, encouraging two Lancashire knights, Ashton and Sir Edmund de Trafford, to pursue their experiments in alchemy, and forbidding any subject of the king to molest them.
Descendants
Sir Thomas married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Byron, by whom he had eleven children. The eldest son, John, was knighted before the battle of NorthamptonBattle of Northampton (1460)
The Battle of Northampton was a battle in the Wars of the Roses, which took place on 10 July 1460.-Background:The Yorkist cause seemed finished after the previous disaster at Ludford Bridge...
, 10 July 1460, and died in 1508.