William of March

Infobox bishopbiog
name =William of March


religion =Catholic
See =Diocese of Bath and Wells
Title = Bishop of Bath and Wells
Period = 1293–1302
Predecessor = Robert Burnell
Successor =Walter Haselshaw
ordination =
bishops =
post =Canon of Wells
date of birth =
place of birth =
date of death =11 June 1302
place of death =

William of March was a medieval Lord High Treasurer of England and a Bishop of Bath and Wells.

Life

He was always referred to as "magister", and may have attended and graduated from Oxford University.Jewell, Helen M. "March , William (d. 1302)" "Oxford Dictionary of National Biography" Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/18032 Online Edition] accessed 15 November 2007] He was controller of the wardrobe from 1283 to 1290 and Dean of St. Martin's-le-Grand before being selected as Treasurer in August of 1290. He was Treasurer until he was dismissed in August of 1295.Fryde "Handbook of British Chronology" p. 104]

He was a canon of Wells by 20 March 1291 and a royal clerk. [http://british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=34341 British History Online Bishops of Bath] accessed on 23 September 2007]

He was elected bishop 30 January 1293 and consecrated 17 May 1293.Fryde "Handbook of British Chronology" p. 228] As treasurer he was instrumental in putting forward administrative changes in the way the department was run. For the first time, monies coming into the treasury were recorded on special accounts and the officials of the department became more involved in the collection and assement of taxes and other varieties of income.Prestwich "Edward I" p. 343] However, in August of 1295 William was dismissed as treasurer, although the financial policies did not change. It may be that King Edward I used March as a scapegoat, or it may be that some charges that citizens of London brought against the treasurer were felt to be valid.Prestwich "Edward I" p. 405] After his dimissal from the treasurership in 1295, he devoted himself to the care of his diocese, and was regarded as pious bishop.Prestwich "Edward I" p. 139]

He died on 11 June 1302 although current historical research is challenging that date. He was buried at Wells Cathedral in the south transept wall on 17 June 1302. In 1325 there was a petition for him to be canonized, which continued to be supported by Kings Edward II and Edward III of England. William is supposed to have built the chapter house at Wells. His will named a brother, John March, and a nephew, Robert Urry, who William left monies to go on crusade in William's name.

Notes

References

* [http://british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=34341 British History Online Bishops of Bath] accessed on 23 September 2007
*
* Prestwich, Michael "Edward I" New Haven:Yale University Press 1997 ISBN 0-300-07157-4

Persondata
NAME=William of March
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Bishop of Bath and Wells
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=11 June 1302
PLACE OF DEATH=