“ Sir Alfred first went to sea in 1859, when only 131⁄2 years old, in one of the famous ships then trading between Blackwall and the East Indies and Australia. In 1863, he became third officer of one of these vessels and in the following year he was shipwrecked on the north-west coast of Australia. After this adventure he became second mate and, later, first mate, of a vessel engaged in surveying the west coast of Australia.
In 1866 Chalmers went into steam, and was employed in a vessel engaged in the carrying of emigrants between Copenhagen and New York. ”

“ Reverting to sail, he became chief mate of a large iron clipper of the Calcutta trade. On his return to steamships he served, first as chief officer, and then as master of steam ships in the coasting and home trades, an in the Baltic, Mediterranean, Atlantic, and Easter services. ”