William Lamberton | |
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Bishop of St. Andrews | |
Church | Roman Catholic Church |
See | Diocese of St. Andrews |
In office | 1297–1328 |
Predecessor | William Fraser |
Successor | James Bane |
Orders | |
Consecration | 1 June 1298, in Rome |
Personal details | |
Born | unknown Possibly Ayrshire or Lamberton, near Berwick |
Died | 30 May 1328 |
Previous post | Chancellor of Glasgow Cathedral |
Guardian of the Kingdom of Scotland (Second Interregnum) |
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In office 1299–1301 Serving with
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Preceded by | William Wallace |
Succeeded by | John de Soules |
a. ^ Wallace had resigned in 1298 and been succeeded in the same year by Bruce and Comyn. Lamberton was appointed as a 'neutral' third successor in 1299. |
William de Lamberton, sometimes modernized as William Lamberton, (died 20 May 1328) was Bishop of St Andrews from 1297 (consecrated 1298) until his death. Lamberton is renowned for his influential role during the Scottish Wars of Independence. He campaigned for the national cause under William Wallace and later Robert the Bruce. Bishop Lamberton was present at the coronation of Robert the Bruce as King Robert I conducted by Bishop Robert Wishart of Glasgow. Lamberton would go on to have a vital role in the formulation of the Declaration of the Clergy 1310 and the Declaration of Arbroath which would lead to Scottish Independence.
During his tenure Lamberton was excommunicated by Rome for his role in the Wars of Independence along with Robert I and the Clergy of Scotland. However, he was reconciled with the Papacy before his death.
Details from the National Dictionary of Biography do seem to clarify his origins in the Lamberton family, originally from Berwickshire, but holding lands in north-east Scotland by the late twelfth century and later in Stirlingshire also. Details of his birth, education, and early career are not certain; he had certainly received a university education by early 1293 and become a canon of Glasgow. By the time of his appearance at King John's (Baliol) first parliament in February 1293 he was chancellor of Glasgow Cathedral. He seems to have been sent abroad for further study by Bishop Robert Wishart of Glasgow, probably in the year or two before July 1295.
Lamberton is recorded in one source as coming from the ancient Barony of Kilmaurs, Ayrshire and his surname would in this case be Cunninghame, for the Lands of Lambroughton have an ancient origin inextricably linked to the Cunninghame family (McNaught 1912).