Background
He was born in Bournemouth and was the son of Mr J.C. Alabaster.
He was born in Bournemouth and was the son of Mr J.C. Alabaster.
He attended King"s College London and matriculated at London University in 1852.
In 1855, he went to China as a student interpreter, remaining there during the Second Opium War and the Taiping Rebellion. Between 1869 and 1873, he was British Vice-Consul in Shanghai and subsequently became Consul General at Hankow, Wuhan from 1880 to 1886 then at Canton from 1886 until 1891. He retired in 1892 was made knight commander in the Order of Street Michael and Street George.
In 1875, Chaloner married Laura, daughter of Doctor Doctorate. J. Alabaster died on 28 June, 1898 at Boscombe, Bournemouth, England.
He was buried in East Cemetery, Bournemouth, England.