About Thomas Norton
Thomas Norton was an English poet and alchemist born in Bristol, England, towards the end of the 14th century. He is believed to have been the son of a Norton who was a very prominent citizen of Bristol. In the year 1436, he was elected to represent that town in Parliament.
Norton began his study in alchemy quite early in life. At the age of 28, he wrote a letter to George Ripley. Ripley invited him to have a face-to-face discussion about the art of alchemy. Norton stayed with Ripley for 40 days. Ripley taught him many things and he even promised that, if Norton showed himself an apt and worthy pupil, he would impart to him the secret of the philosophers’ stone. In due course, this promise was fulfilled, though it is reported that Norton’s own alchemical research met with various disappointments.
After his return to Bristol, Norton tried to make the first elixir, but it was stolen by his servant. For some time, this drove him into depression. However, Norton tried again, but this time too his elixir got stolen by a woman.
Norton himself does not appear to have reaped monetary benefit at any time from his erudition, but is believed to have been a comparatively poor man throughout the whole of his life. Norton is best known for his work, Ordinall of Alchemy written about 1477.