John Langton
Bishop of Chichester
ProvinceCanterbury
Appointed5 April 1305
Term ended19 July 1337
PredecessorGilbert of St Leonard
SuccessorRobert Stratford
Other post(s)Lord Chancellor
Orders
Consecration19 September 1305
Personal details
Died19 July 1337
DenominationRoman Catholic
Previous post(s)
Master of the Rolls
In office
1286–1292
MonarchEdward I of England
Preceded bynew office
Succeeded byAdam Osgodby
Lord Chancellor
In office
1292–1302
MonarchEdward I of England
Preceded byRobert Burnell
Succeeded byWilliam Greenfield
Lord Chancellor
In office
1307–1310
MonarchEdward II of England
Preceded byRalph Baldock
Succeeded byWalter Reynolds

John Langton (died 1337) was a chancellor of England and Bishop of Chichester.

Life

Langton was a clerk in the royal chancery, serving as the first Master of the Rolls from May 1286, and became chancellor in 1292.[1] He obtained several ecclesiastical appointments (including as Vicar of St. Mary's Church, Horncastle), but owing to the resistance of Pope Boniface VIII he failed to secure the bishopric of Ely in 1298, although he was supported by King Edward I of England and visited Rome to attain his end.[2] Resigning his office as chancellor in 1302,[1] he was chosen Bishop of Chichester on 5 April 1305, consecrated bishop on 19 September 1305,[3] and again became chancellor shortly after the accession of Edward II in 1307.[4] Langton was one of the ordainers elected in 1310, and it was probably his connection with this body[5] that led to his losing the office of chancellor about this time.[1] He continued, however, to take part in public affairs, mediating between the king and Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster in 1318, and attempting to do so between Edward and his rebellious barons in 1321.[5] He died on 19 July 1337.[3] Langton built the chapterhouse at Chichester, and was a benefactor of the University of Oxford.

Citations

  1. ^ a b c Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 85
  2. ^ Greenway Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300: Volume 2: Monastic Cathedrals (Northern and Southern Provinces): Ely: Bishops Archived 14 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ a b Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 239
  4. ^ Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 86
  5. ^ a b Buck "Langton, John" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

References

Wikisource has original text related to this article:
  • Buck, M. C. (2004). "Langton, John". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/16040. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  • Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I. (1996). Handbook of British Chronology (Third revised ed.). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-56350-X.
  • Greenway, Diana E. (1971). "Ely: Bishops". Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300. Vol. 2: Monastic Cathedrals (Northern and Southern Provinces). Institute of Historical Research. Archived from the original on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2007.
Legal offices New office Master of the Rolls 1286–1295 Succeeded byAdam Osgodby Political offices Preceded byRobert Burnell Lord Chancellor 1292–1302 Succeeded byWilliam Greenfield Preceded byRalph Baldock Lord Chancellor 1307–1310 Succeeded byWalter Reynoldsas Keeper of the Great Seal Catholic Church titles Preceded byWilliam of Louthas consecrated bishop — DISPUTED —Bishop-elect of Ely1298–1299Disputed by John Salmon Succeeded byRalph Walpoleas consecrated bishop Preceded byGilbert of St Leonard Bishop of Chichester 1305–1337 Succeeded byRobert Stratford

Categories