He worked as professor of Greek at the University of Salamanca, whose history, consulting ancient documents in the library, he published in 1569. In Salamanca he was part of the School of Salamanca, a notable group of professors which also included Francisco de Salinas and Fray Luis de León.
By 1572 he had moved to Rome, where he been summoned by pope Gregory XIII to do mathematical work towards reform of the Julian Calendar. Whilst in Rome he also studied classical sources.
Works
Kalendarii Romani veteris Julii Cœsaris aetate marmori incisi explanatio.
Tractatus de Ponderibus et Mensuris M. S.
De Nummis libri III.
Commentaria de Nummis tam Grœcorum et Latinorum quam Hispanorum et Italorum.
In Decretum Gratiani correctiones.
In S. Hieronymum, S. Hilarium, et S. Ambrosium Nota quœdam.
De Triclinio sive de Modo convivandi apud prisco Romanos… accedit Fulvi Ursini Appendix, & Hier. Mercurialis, De accubitus in cena antiquorum origine dissertatio. Amsterdam : Andreas Frisius, 1664. Amsterdam, Henry Wetstein, 1689. – his most famous work, looking at the eating habits of the ancient Romans, along with their food, drink, wine, guests, etiquette, table dressing and background music for eating.
CHACÓN, Pedro. Historia de la Universidad de Salamanca hecha por el Maestro Pedro Chacón. Transcription and commentary by Ana María Carabias Torres, Salamanca: Ediciones Universidad de Salamanca, 1990.
