Robert de Stratford

Robert de Stratford ( c. 1292 – 9 April 1362) was an English bishop and was one of Edward III's principal ministers.

Early life

Stratford was born into the landed Stratford family of Stratford-on-Avon around 1292. His father was another Robert and his mother was called Isabel. He was brother to John de Stratford ( Archbishop of Canterbury) and possibly Henry de Stratford and Thomas de Stratford, Archdeacon of Gloucester (he was certainly a relation to both), to the latter of whom he gifted the manor of Shottery. Robert senior has been identified as ‘Master’ Robert, co-founder and first master of the hospital of St Cross within the town, but in view of the title magister and the celibate status required, this appears unlikely. The family was related to the Hattons, important men in the town, Ralph Hatton ‘of Stratford’, the future bishop of London, being John's nephew. He was also a relative of Sir Andrew De Stratford.Roy Martin Haines, ‘Stratford, Robert (c.1292–1362)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 200
accessed 28 May 2014
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Career

Stratford served for a time as deputy to his brother John. From 1329 he served as Prebend of Aylesbury and then from 1331 to 1334 he served as Chancellor of the Exchequer and from March to July 1338 as Lord Chancellor.Fryde, et al. ''Handbook of British Chronology'' p. 86 He was dismissed as chancellor in 1338 but regained the office for six months in 1340.

From 1335 to 1338, Stratford was Chancellor of the University of Oxford.

From 1334 to 1337, Stratford was Archdeacon of Canterbury. He was elected Bishop of Chichester between 23 July and 18 August 1337, and was consecrated 30 November 1337.Fryde, et al. ''Handbook of British Chronology'', p. 239.

Death

Stratford made his will and died at his manor of Aldingbourne in Sussex on 9 April 1362.Dalloway, James. "A History of the Western Division of the County of Sussex, Volume 1" 1815, p.53
/ref> Probate was granted on the 26th. His recumbent effigy lies in the south choir aisle of Chichester Cathedral.

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Stratford, Robert De
Robert
Year of birth uncertain
1292 births
1362 deaths
Alumni of the University of Oxford
Archdeacons of Canterbury
Fellows of Merton College, Oxford
Chancellors of the University of Oxford
Bishops of Chichester
14th-century English Roman Catholic bishops
Chancellors of the Exchequer of England
Lord chancellors of England