William Middleton (or William de Middleton; died 31 August or 1 September 1288) was a medieval Bishop of Norwich.

Life

Middleton began his career as a clerk in the Jewish exchequer in 1265. He was given custody of the rolls in 1276, and in 1277 was at the French royal court.^[1] He was an official of Canterbury when he was appointed Archdeacon of Canterbury by Archbishop Robert Kilwardby in October 1275. He may also have held a prebend in the diocese of London.^[2]

Middleton was elected on 24 February 1278 and was consecrated on 29 May 1278. He was enthroned at Norwich Cathedral on 27 November 1278.^[3] He continued to work on royal administrative business after his election and consecration.^[1]

In July 1287 Middleton was appointed to the offices of Seneschal of Gascony and Lieutenant of the Duchy of Aquitaine.^[4] He died 31 August^[3] or 1 September 1288.^[5]

Citations

References

• British History Online Archdeacons of Canterbury accessed on 29 October 2007
• British History Online Bishops of Norwich accessed on 29 October 2007
• Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I. (1996). Handbook of British Chronology (Third revised ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-56350-X.
• Pegues, Frank (October 1956). "The Clericus in the Legal Administration of Thirteenth-Century England". The English Historical Review. 71 (281): 529–559. doi:10.1093/ehr/LXXI.281.529.