Thomas Langton | |
---|---|
Bishop of Winchester | |
Appointed | 1493 |
Term ended | 27 January 1501 |
Predecessor | Peter Courtenay |
Successor | Richard Foxe |
Other posts | Archbishop-elect of Canterbury |
Orders | |
Consecration | August or September 1483 |
Personal details | |
Born | Appleby-in-Westmorland |
Died | 27 January 1501 |
Buried | Winchester Cathedral |
Nationality | English |
Denomination | Roman Catholic |
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Thomas Langton (died 27 January 1501) was chaplain to King Edward IV, before becoming successively Bishop of St David's, Bishop of Salisbury, Bishop of Winchester, and Archbishop-elect of Canterbury.
Langton was born in Appleby-in-Westmorland, and educated by the Carmelite friars there. He matriculated at Queen's College, Oxford, but soon removed to Cambridge, probably to Clare Hall, on account of the plague. In 1461 he was elected fellow of Pembroke Hall, serving as proctor in 1462. While at Cambridge he took both degrees in canon law, and was afterwards incorporated in them at Oxford. In 1464 he left the university, and some time before 1476 was made chaplain to King Edward IV. Langton was in high favour with the king, who trusted him much, and sent him on various important embassies. In 1467 he went as ambassador to France, and as king's chaplain was sent to treat with Ferdinand II, king of Aragon, on 24 November 1476. He visited France again on diplomatic business on 30 November 1477, and on 11 August 1478, to conclude the espousals of Edward's daughter Elizabeth and Charles, son of the French king. Two years later he was sent to demand the fulfilment of this marriage treaty, but the prince, now Charles VIII, king of France, refused to carry it out, and the match was broken off.