John de Ufford | |
|---|---|
| Archbishop-designate of Canterbury | |
 | |
| Term ended | 20 May 1349 |
| Predecessor | John de Stratford (archbishop) |
| Successor | Thomas Bradwardine (archbishop) |
| Previous posts | Lord Privy Seal,Dean of Lincoln |
| Orders | |
| Consecration | (died unconsecrated) |
| Personal details | |
| Died | (1349-05-20)20 May 1349 |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
John de Ufford[a] (died 20 May 1349) was chancellor and head of the royal administration toEdward III as well as being appointed to the Archbishopric of Canterbury.
His family held the estate ofOfford Dameys,Huntingdonshire. His brother wasAndrew Offord.[1]
De Ufford was sent, along with Nicholas de Luna and Hugh Neville toAvignon in the summer of 1344 as envoys to a council held by PopeClement VI to mediate peace during the Peace of Malestroit (January 1343 – September 1346), a breathing space for both sides during theHundred Years War. The mediation came to naught.[2]
De Ufford was the chancellor to Edward III, keeper of both the great seal and the privy seal. He was entrusted with the privy seal in 1342 (thus becomingLord Privy Seal),[3] and the great seal on 26 October 1345, which was the duty of theLord Chancellor.[4][5] He resigned the office of Lord Privy Seal after 29 September 1344,[3] but held the office of Chancellor until his death.[4]
De Ufford held the position ofDean of Lincoln from 1344 to 1348.[4]
After the death of ArchbishopJohn de Stratford, Edward chose de Ufford asArchbishop of Canterbury, though the canons of the chapter had electedThomas Bradwardine, the king's trusted confessor, a great intellectual and diplomat. De Ufford was appointed to thesee of Canterbury by papal bull dated 24 September 1348 and was granted thetemporalities of the see on 14 December 1348.[6]
Any developing contention between the chapter and the king was rendered a dead issue when de Ufford, already aged and infirm, was carried off by theBlack Death, before being consecrated, on 20 May 1349.[4]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Lord Privy Seal 1342–1344 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Lord Chancellor 1345–1349 | Succeeded by |
| Catholic Church titles | ||
| Preceded by | Dean of Lincoln 1344–1348 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by John de Stratford (archbishop) | Archbishop-designate of Canterbury 1348–1349 | Succeeded by Thomas Bradwardine (archbishop) |