John Waltham

John Waltham
Bishop of Salisbury
1860 illustration of the monumental brass of John de Waltham
Appointed	3 April 1388
Term ended	17 September 1395
Predecessor	Ralph Ergham
Successor	Richard Mitford
Orders
Consecration	20 September 1388
Personal details
Born	Waltham, North East Lincolnshire
Died	17 September 1395
Denomination	Catholic
Previous post	Archdeacon of Richmond

John Waltham (or John de Waltham) was a priest and high-ranking government official in England in the 14th century. He held a number of ecclesiastical and civic positions during the reigns of King Edward III and Richard II, eventually rising to become Lord High Treasurer, Lord Privy Seal of England and Bishop of Salisbury. He is buried in Westminster Abbey, London.

It is thought that Waltham was born in Waltham, Lincolnshire, in 1395 (although some sources identify his birthplace as Waltham in Essex – the historian Thomas Fuller wrote in 1655, "Amongst the natives of Waltham for statesmen, de Waltham bears away the bell".). He was the son of John and Margaret Waltham, whose memorial brass still exists in the chancel of All Saints' Church in Waltham.

Waltham's great uncle was John of Thoresby, Lord Chancellor of England and Archbishop of York. John de Waltham is not to be confused with contemporary relatives of the same name; according to records, there was an elder John Waltham who was the nephew of Thoresby and the uncle of the younger John Waltham. This elder Waltham, who died in 1384, became canon and sub-dean of York. Confusingly, his will refers to his brother, also called John, who is thought to be the father of the younger John Waltham.

As a priest, Waltham held a number of senior positions. He held the position of prebendary of Dunham in the Cathedral Church of Southwell, but resigned this post in 1361; 20 November of that year he was appointed prebendary of Lichfield Cathedral. He also held the post of prebendary at Rampton, Nottinghamshire until 1383.