William Chaloner

William Chaloner
Born1650
Died22 March 1699(1699-03-22) (aged 48–49)
Tyburn, Middlesex, England
Cause of deathHanged on the gallows
NationalityEnglish
Occupation(s)Counterfeiter, coin clipper, confidence trickster, quack doctor
Years active1690-1699
Known forBeing proven guilty of high treason by Sir Isaac Newton, Master of the Royal Mint, for counterfeiting currency
Criminal statusDead
Conviction(s)High treason
Criminal penaltyDeath penalty and disembowelment
Accomplice(s)Patrick Coffey, Thomas Taylor, Joseph Gravener, Thomas Holloway (and his wife), Thomas Carter, Aubrey Price
Details
VictimsRoyal Mint

William Chaloner (1650 – 22 March 1699)[1][2] was a serial counterfeit coiner and confidence trickster, who was imprisoned in Newgate Prison several times and eventually proven guilty of high treason by Sir Isaac Newton, Warden of the Royal Mint. He was hanged on the gallows at Tyburn on 22 March 1699.[1][3]

Chaloner grew up in a poor family in Warwickshire, but through a career in counterfeiting and con artistry attained great wealth, including a house in Knightsbridge. He started by forging "Birmingham Groats", then moved on to Guineas, French Pistoles, crowns and half-crowns, Banknotes and lottery tickets. At various times he also made and sold dildos and worked as a quack doctor, soothsayer, and sham anti-Jacobite "agent provocateur" to collect government rewards.[2][1][4] In Guzman Redivivus, a posthumous biography published anonymously in 1699, it was stated that "scorning the 'petty Rogueries of Tricking single Men', he aimed rather at 'imposing upon a whole Kingdom'.[3]

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  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Telegraph was invoked but never defined (see the help page).