Gregory Chelston

**Gregory Chelston, 2nd Earl Chelston also known at the Theed Court as Lord Chelston,** was a Kinkowan statesman, who held various positions in the government of King Veruna I. In 1660, after a successful tenure as Lord Treasurer, Chelston was appointed Lord Hand of the King, head of King Veruna's government; a position that he held until February 1662.

## Early Life

### **Childhood and Education, 1607 to 1621.**

Gregory Chelston was born into the noble House of Chelston on the 14th August 1607, the first son of Christopher Chelston, 1st Earl Chelston, and Lady Dianna Hatton, the eldest daughter of the 16th Earl Hatton. Chelston's father had been raised to the sinecure title of Earl Chelston in 1605, as a reward for his participation in the Battle of Haskin Hill in the Delta War. Before his father's elevation, Chelston's family held the sinecure hereditary title of Barons Chelston. Upon Chelston's birth, his father requested that the family title of Earl Chelston be made hereditary, so that it may be passed down to his new son. The Earl's request was given royal affirmation soon after and, at the young Gregory Chelston's baptism in June 1608, he was afforded the family's now-secondary title of Baron Chelston. Chelston was a precocious child and, in 1621 at the age of 14 and on the advice of his private tutor, he was sent to study at King's College, Royal University of Theed. At university, Chelston studied for a Master of Arts degree, which he completed within three years; becoming one of the youngest graduates in the history of the institution. It was at university that Chelston befriended the son of his liege lord, Veruna Amidala, Duke of Touraine and future King of the Unified Kingdoms. The two students shared an amicable friendship throughout their university studies and both competed on the King's College Rowing Team.

### **Early Career and Marriage**

In December 1624, after completing his studies at King's College, Chelston was summoned to the Theed Court, where he was offered an advisory role in the Royal Treasury, which he accepted. Chelston would serve in the Royal Treasury, in various positions, and under three different monarchs, until 1637; when he was ordered to return to the Stepplands by his father. Concerned that the thirty-year-old Baron had not yet married, Earl Chelston arranged him a marriage with Eleanor Turridge, the eldest daughter of the Earl of Turridge. While Lady Turridge was far above Chelston in social and noble station, the Earl of Turridge, a patron of education and learning, was impressed by Chelston's intelligence and was enthusiastic for the marriage to take place.

In February 1638, the couple were married at St. Helena's Sept in Tourmaline, the family Sept of the House of Turridge. The wedding was attended by a small but high-profile wedding party, including the Duke of Touraine and his new-wedded wife Lady Catherine Apailana. Upon the marriage, Lady Turridge officially adopted the title of Baroness Chelston and her official married name became Lady Eleanor Turridge, Baroness Chelston.

The early days of the marriage were filled with happiness and festivities, with the couple honeymooning in Turridge Family Villa, in the Lake Country. Chelston's marriage was certainly one of two like-minded individuals, with the two often staying awake into the early hours of the morning debating topics of ethics and philosophy. After a long honeymoon, the couple decided to move back to Theed, where Chelston could continue his career in the Royal Treasury. Earl Chelston, if reluctantly, consented to the couple's migration to the capital and gifted them £20,000 to purchase a house in the city. Indeed, when the couple arrived in Theed in early May, the couple purchased Clarice House, a 16-bedroom manor-townhouse in East Theed. A few days later, it was confirmed that Lady Eleanor was pregnant with the couple's first child. On December 4th, 1638, Lady Eleanor gave birth to a boy whom the couple named Christopher in honour of Chelston's father.

## Mid-Life

### **Return to Chelston House and Illness**

On January 16th, 1645, Earl Chelston, aged 62, passed away after contracting sweating sickness. When Chelston received the news of his father's death, he immediately set about returning to Chelston House. After acquiring the King's leave, Chelston and his family left for his family home. While on the journey to the Stepplands, Chelston received news that Theed was had been placed on lockdown in an attempt to contain the spread of the sweating sickness. On January 25th, Chelston arrived at Chelston House and, soon after, contracted the sickness. While he survived his bout with sweating sickness, Chelston's doctors discovered a tumor in his kidney. In early February, Chelston underwent a revolutionary medical procedure to remove the tumor. While the expense of the procedure nearly bankrupted his family estate, Chelston swiftly recovered and decided to remain at Chelston Hall to focus his efforts on improving his family's finances. In November 1645, Chelston sold Clarice House for £30,000 in order to recuperate the money spent on his operation.

### **Lord Chamberlain of the Royal Household**

In May 1649, the new King Veruna I offered his old friend, the new Earl Chelston, the position on Lord Chamberlain of the Royal Household; tasked with managing and coordinating the Royal Household, and advising the King on certain matters such as personal royal finances. Chelston accepted the offer and returned to Theed in mid-June of the same year. Some historians have suggested that King Veruna had always intended on offering the position of Lord Chamberlain to Earl Chelston but was cautious of the Earl's ailing condition; with some even suggesting that Veruna donated a significant sum of money that contributed towards Chelston's operation and recovery. However, there is little substantial evidence to definitively verify these theories. Moreover, the fact that the King appointed Lord Chelston, a relatively obscure member of the nobility and someone whom he didn't share a close relationship with after their time at King's College, suggests that Veruna was aware of the talents that Chelston demonstrated during his time working in the Royal Treasury.

Succesful: reformed royal finances, made household more frugal.

Little is known of his role in the treasury: his ability to reform and refine the royal treasury shows that his previous positions exposed him enough to the inner workings of the treasury and tax system in order to be able to reform such a complicated system.