| The son of Chaloner Chute of the Middle Temple, Chaloner Chute was admitted a member of the Middle Temple and called to the bar. He acquired a great reputation at the bar and was employed in the defence of Sir Edward Herbert (the king's attorney-general), Archbishop Laud, the eleven members of the House of Commons charged by Fairfax and his army as delinquents, and James, duke of Hamilton. In 1649 he appears to have taken part in framing new rules for reformation of the proceedings in chancery. In 1656 Chute was returned as one of the knights of the shire for Middlesex, and on not being allowed to take his seat, he, with a number of other members who had been similarly treated, published a remonstrance. To the following Parliament of 1658-1659 he was again returned by the same constituency, and on the meeting of this parliament on 27 Jan 1659 was chosen speaker, "although he besought the house to think of some other person more worthy and of better health and ability to supply that place." On 9 Mar 1659, in consequence of his failing health, Chute begged the house that "he might be totally discharged", or have leave of absence for a time, whereupon Sir Lislebone Long, recorder of London, was chosen speaker during Chute's absence. On 21 Mar 1659 the members who were appointed by the house to visit him at his home in the country found him "very infirm and weak." He died on 14 Apr 1659, and on the following day Thomas Bampfield, who, upon Long becoming ill, had been chosen deputy-speaker, was elected to the chair. [2; 3] |
