Walter de Stapledon

Infobox bishopbiog
name = Walter de Stapledon


religion =Catholic
See =Diocese of Exeter
Title = Bishop of Exeter
Period = 1308–1326
Predecessor = Thomas Bitton
Successor =James Berkeley
ordination =
bishops =
post =papal chaplain
date of birth = February 1 1261
place of birth =Annery, Devonshire
date of death =October 14 1326
place of death =London

Walter de Stapeldon (February 1, 1261–October 15, 1326), English bishop, was born at Annery in North Devon.

He became professor of canon law at Oxford University and chaplain to Pope Clement VFact|date=April 2008 and on March 13 1307 was chosen Bishop of Exeter, and was consecrated on October 13 1308.Fryde "Handbook of British Chronology" p. 246] He went on errands to France for both Edward I and Edward II, and attended the councils and parliaments of his time.Fact|date=April 2008 As Lord High Treasurer of England, an office to which he was appointed twice, once in 1320 and once in 1322,Fryde "Handbook of British Chronology" p. 105] the Bishop was associated in the popular mind with the misdeeds of Edward II, and consequently, after the king fled before the advancing troops of Queen Isabella, he was murdered in London by the mobFact|date=April 2008 on 15 October 1326.

Stapeldon is famous as the founder of Exeter College, Oxford, which originated in Stapeldon Hall, established in 1314 by the bishop and his elder brother, Sir Richard Stapeldon, a judge of the king's bench. He also contributed very liberally to the rebuilding of his cathedral at Exeter. His tomb is on the north side of the high altar there.

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Persondata
NAME=Stapledon, Walter de
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Bishop of Exeter; Lord High Treasurer of England
DATE OF BIRTH=February 1, 1261
PLACE OF BIRTH=Annery, Devonshire
DATE OF DEATH=October 15, 1326
PLACE OF DEATH=London, England