William Longchamp, bishop of Ely (d.1197)
- Biography
- William de Longchamp was the son of Hugh de Longchamp (d.c.1187), a servant of Henry II. William was probably born near Argenton in Normandy. William was a clerk of Geoffrey Plantagenet, archdeacon of Rouen and later archbishop of York, before becoming chancellor of Richard I when Richard was count of Poitou. Upon his accession to the English throne, Richard made him royal chancellor. William was consecrated bishop of Ely on 31 December 1189. In March 1190, he was made chief justiciar of England and in June was named papal legate of England by Pope Clement III.
William had several brothers including: Stephen, a steward of Richard I; Osbert and Henry, who were sheriffs in the 1190s; Robert, a monk and successive prior of Ely and St Mary's York. He also had a sister, Richeut, who married Matthew de Clere, constable of Dover Castle, and anther sister Melisend. William died in 1197. R.V. Turner, 'William de Longchamp (d.1197)', ODNB (2004), ???; [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/16980]
- Floruits
- 1189 × 1189
- Related Place
- Ely