Background
He was the son of another Patrick Chalmers, a merchant from Aldbar, from whom he inherited Aldbar Castle.
Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom
He was the son of another Patrick Chalmers, a merchant from Aldbar, from whom he inherited Aldbar Castle.
After being educated in Germany he studied at Oxford University, which he left before obtaining a degree.
He then joined the army, serving in Ireland as part of the 3rd Dragoon Guards, where he rose to the rank of captain. In 1826, after his father"s death, he sold his commission and returned to Aldbar. He ran again in 1835 and succeeded, being reelected in 1837 and 1841.
In later life he became an amateur Antiquarian, being appointed a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London on 24 January 1850 and writing a book The Sculptured Monuments of the County of Angus describing work he had come across.
His health returned in later years, with some suggesting that he run for reelection in the next general election, but on a journey with some young relatives on a continental tour in 1854 he was struck by smallpox, immediately followed by a second bout of the spinal disease that had forced him to resign. Under the care of doctors not familiar with him, he contracted dysentery, of which he died on 23 June.
12th United Kingdom Parliament. 13th United Kingdom Parliament. 14th United Kingdom Parliament]
In 1832 he attempted to run for office as the Member of Parliament for Montrose Burghs, but was defeated by Horatio Ross.
In 1842 he was forced to resign due to ill-health, having an unidentified disease at the base of his spine, becoming the first Member of Parliament to be appointed as Steward of the Manor of Northstead.