William de Beauchamp (1185)

William de Beauchamp (c.1185–1260) was a British judge and High Sheriff. He took part in the 1210 expedition to Ireland and the 1214 expedition to Poitiers before joining the rebellious barons in 1215 at the beginning of the First Barons' War, entertaining them at his seat of Bedford Castle; as such Beauchamp was one of the rebels excommunicated by Pope Innocent III. He was captured at the Battle of Lincoln on 20 May 1217 but made his peace with the government; by this point he had already lost Bedford Castle to Falkes de Breauté in 1215, leading to an odd situation; Breauté was granted the castle, while Beauchamp held the barony. When Breaté fell from power Bedford Castle was sieged and partially destroyed on royal orders, but Beauchamp was granted licence to build a residence within its Bailey. He was part of a royal expedition ambushed by Richard Marshal in 1233, and was appointed a Baron of the Exchequer in 1234 and 1237. Between 1234 and 1237 he also served as High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire, and when Eleanor of Provence was crowned queen in 1236 he served as an Almoner. He died in 1260, leaving a son, also called William. [cite web|url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/1844?docPos=25|title=Oxford DNB article:Beauchamp, William de|accessdate=2008-10-05]

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