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{{short description|15th-century Archbishop of York and Chancellor of England}}
{{bots|deny=InternetArchiveBot}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
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{{Use British English|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
{{Infobox Christian leader
| honorific-prefix = The Right Reverend
| honorific-prefix = [[The Most Reverend]] and [[Right Honourable]]
| name = Thomas Rotherham
| name = Thomas Rotherham
| archbishop_of = [[Archbishop of York]]
| archbishop_of = [[Archbishop of York]] and [[Primate of England]]
| image = Archbishop Thomas Rotherham.jpg
| image = Archbishop Thomas Rotherham.jpg
| imagesize =
| imagesize =
| alt =
| alt =
| caption = Portrait of Thomas Rotherham from "Historic Notices of Rotherham", by John Guest,1879
| caption = Portrait of Thomas Rotherham from "Historic Notices of Rotherham", by John Guest,1879
| appointed = 7 July 1480
| appointed = 7 July 1480
Line 12: Line 16:
| predecessor = [[Lawrence Booth]]
| predecessor = [[Lawrence Booth]]
| successor = [[Thomas Savage (bishop)|Thomas Savage]]
| successor = [[Thomas Savage (bishop)|Thomas Savage]]
| ordination =
| ordination =
| consecration =
| consecration =
| other_post =[[Bishop of Rochester]]<br>[[Bishop of Lincoln]]
| other_post = [[Bishop of Rochester]]<br>[[Bishop of Lincoln]]
| birth_date = 24 August 1423
| birth_date = 24 August 1423
| birth_place = [[Rotherham]], [[South Yorkshire]]
| birth_place = [[Rotherham]], [[Yorkshire]]
| death_date = 29 May 1500
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1500|5|29|1423|8|24}}
| death_place = [[Cawood Castle]]
| death_place = [[Cawood Castle]]
| buried = [[York Minster]]
| buried = [[York Minster]]
| nationality = English
| nationality = English
| religion = [[Roman Catholic]]
| religion = [[Roman Catholic]]
| education = [[Eton College]]
| alma_mater = [[King's College, Cambridge]]
}}
}}


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==Life==
==Life==
===Background===
===Background===
Thomas Rotherham was born 24 August 1423 in [[Rotherham]], [[Yorkshire]].{{sfn|Horrox|2004}} He is said to have been the eldest son of Sir Thomas Rotherham of [[Rotherham]] by his wife, Dame Alice. From the sixteenth century onwards he was also known by the alternate surname 'Scot', although that surname was not used by Rotherham himself or by his contemporaries. In his will, however, Rotherham does refer to his kinsman John Scott of [[Ecclesfield]], [[Yorkshire]], and it has been speculated that he was the son of [[John Scott (died 1485)|Sir John Scott]] of [[Scot's Hall]] in [[Smeeth]], [[Kent]] and Agnes Beaufitz.<ref>[http://books.google.ca/books?id=okhFAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA310 Berry, William, ''County Genealogies; Pedigrees of the Families of the County of Sussex'', (London: Sherwood, Gilbert and Piper), 1830 p. 310] Retrieved 18 September 2013.</ref> However this claim is said to have been disproved.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/archbishoprother00benn#page/6/mode/2up Bennett, Henry Leigh, ''Archbishop Rotherham'', (Lincoln: J.W. Ruddock, 1901), pp. 6-7] Retrieved 18 September 2013.</ref>
Thomas Rotherham was born 24 August 1423 in [[Rotherham]], [[Yorkshire]].{{sfn|Horrox|2004}} He is said to have been the eldest son of Sir Thomas Rotherham of [[Rotherham]] by his wife, Dame Alice. From the sixteenth century onwards he was also known by the alternate surname 'Scot', although that surname was not used by Rotherham himself or by his contemporaries. In his will, however, Rotherham does refer to his kinsman John Scott of [[Ecclesfield]], [[Yorkshire]], and it has been speculated that he was the son of [[John Scott (died 1485)|Sir John Scott]] of [[Scot's Hall]] in [[Smeeth]], [[Kent]] and Agnes Beaufitz.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=okhFAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA310 Berry, William, ''County Genealogies; Pedigrees of the Families of the County of Sussex'', (London: Sherwood, Gilbert and Piper), 1830 p. 310] Retrieved 18 September 2013.</ref> However this claim is said to have been disproved.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/archbishoprother00benn#page/6/mode/2up Bennett, Henry Leigh, ''Archbishop Rotherham'', (Lincoln: J.W. Ruddock, 1901), pp. 6-7] Retrieved 18 September 2013.</ref>

===Education===
===Education===
He was first educated as a young boy by a teacher of grammar, who came, according to Thomas, "I know not by what fate save it was the Grace of God". Afterwards he was sent to the newly founded [[Eton College]] to prepare for university entrance.
He was first educated as a young boy by a teacher of grammar, who came, according to Thomas, "I know not by what fate save it was the Grace of God". Afterwards he was sent to the newly founded [[Eton College]] to prepare for university entrance.

===Appointments to office===
===Appointments to office===
Rotherham attended [[King's College, Cambridge]], becoming a [[Bachelor of Divinity]] and a [[Fellow]] of King's,<ref>{{acad|id=RTRN443T|name=Rotheram, Thomas}}</ref> and lectured on Grammar, Theology and Philosophy. After his [[ordination]] as a [[priest]] he served in many powerful positions in the Church, becoming [[prebend]]ary of [[Lincoln, Lincolnshire|Lincoln]] in 1462 and of [[Salisbury]] in 1465. He was appointed [[Bishop of Rochester]] in 1468,<ref>{{harvnb|Fryde|Greenway|Porter|Roy|1996|p=268}}.</ref> [[Bishop of Lincoln]] in 1472,<ref>{{harvnb|Fryde|Greenway|Porter|Roy|1996|p=256}}.</ref> and then [[Archbishop of York]] from 1480 to 1500.<ref name=Handbook282>{{harvnb|Fryde|Greenway|Porter|Roy|1996|p=282}}.</ref>
Rotherham was educated at [[King's College, Cambridge]], graduating as a [[Bachelor of Divinity]] and becoming a [[Fellow]] of his college,<ref>{{acad|id=RTRN443T|name=Rotheram, Thomas}}</ref> and lectured on Grammar, Theology, and Philosophy. After his [[ordination]] as a [[priest]], he became a [[prebend]]ary of [[Lincoln Cathedral|Lincoln]] in 1462 and then of [[Salisbury]] in 1465. He moved on to powerful positions in the Church, being appointed as [[Bishop of Rochester]] in 1468,<ref>{{harvnb|Fryde|Greenway|Porter|Roy|1996|p=268}}</ref> [[Bishop of Lincoln]] in 1472,<ref>{{harvnb|Fryde|Greenway|Porter|Roy|1996|p=256}}</ref> and then [[Archbishop of York]] in 1480, a position he held until 1500.<ref name=Handbook282>{{harvnb|Fryde|Greenway|Porter|Roy|1996|p=282}}.</ref>

⚫
In 1467, [[Edward IV of England|King Edward IV]] appointed Rotherham as [[Lord Privy Seal|Keeper of the Privy Seal]].<ref name=Handbook95>{{harvnb|Fryde|Greenway|Porter|Roy|1996|pp=95–96}}.</ref> He was sent as ambassador to France in 1468 and as joint ambassador to Burgundy in 1471, and in 1475 was entrusted with the office of [[Lord Chancellor]].<ref name=Handbook88>{{harvnb|Fryde|Greenway|Porter|Roy|1996|p=88}}.</ref> Between 1477 and his death, Rotherham was the owner of [[Barnes Hall, South Yorkshire|Barnes Hall]] in South Yorkshire.<ref name="David Hey 1">''"Historic Hallamshire"'', David Hey, Landmark Collectors Library, {{ISBN|1 84306 049 3}}, pp. 51 & 52</ref>


⚫
[[King Edward IV]] appointed Rotherham [[Lord Privy Seal|Keeper of the Privy Seal]] in 1467.<ref name=Handbook95>{{harvnb|Fryde|Greenway|Porter|Roy|1996|pp=95–96}}.</ref> He became ambassador to France in 1468, joint ambassador to Burgundy in 1471 and in 1474 was entrusted with the office of [[Lord Chancellor]].<ref name=Handbook88>{{harvnb|Fryde|Greenway|Porter|Roy|1996|p=88}}.</ref> Between 1477 and his death, Rotherham was the owner of [[Barnes Hall, South Yorkshire|Barnes Hall]] in South Yorkshire.<ref name="David Hey 1">''"Historic Hallamshire"'', David Hey, Landmark Collectors Library, ISBN 1 84306 049 3, pages 51 & 52, Details Rotherham owning Barnes Hall.</ref>
===Involvement in intrigue===
===Involvement in intrigue===
When Edward IV died in April 1483, Rotherham was one of the celebrants of the funeral mass on 20 April 1483.<ref>{{harvnb|Ross|Edward IV|p=417}}</ref> Immediately after Edward's death, Rotherham sided with dowager queen [[Elizabeth Woodville]] in her attempt to deprive [[Richard III of England|Richard, Duke of Gloucester]] of his role as Lord Protector of the new King, her son [[Edward V of England|Edward V]]. When Elizabeth sought sanctuary after Richard had taken charge of the king, Rotherham released the Great Seal to her. Though he later recovered it and handed it over to [[Thomas Bourchier (bishop)|Thomas Bourchier]], Archbishop of Canterbury,<ref>{{harvnb|Ross|Richard III|p=76}}</ref> his mishandling of the seal&nbsp;– indicative of questionable loyalty, led to his dismissal as Lord Chancellor. On 13 May he was replaced by [[John Russell (bishop)|John Russell]], who earlier had also been his successor as Bishop of Lincoln.
When Edward IV died in April 1483, Rotherham was one of the celebrants of the funeral mass on 20 April 1483.<ref>{{harvnb|Ross|Edward IV|p=417}}</ref> Immediately after Edward's death, Rotherham sided with dowager queen [[Elizabeth Woodville]] in her attempt to deprive [[Richard III of England|Richard, Duke of Gloucester]] of his role as Lord Protector of the new King, her son [[Edward V of England|Edward V]]. When Elizabeth sought sanctuary after Richard had taken charge of the king, Rotherham released the Great Seal to her. Though he later recovered it and handed it over to [[Thomas Bourchier (bishop)|Thomas Bourchier]], Archbishop of Canterbury,<ref>{{harvnb|Ross|Richard III|p=76}}</ref> his mishandling of the seal&nbsp;– indicative of questionable loyalty, led to his dismissal as Lord Chancellor. On 13 May he was replaced by [[John Russell (bishop)|John Russell]], who earlier had also been his successor as Bishop of Lincoln.


On 13 June 1483, Rotherham was charged with being involved in a conspiracy between [[William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings|Lord Hastings]] and the Woodvilles against Richard and imprisoned in the [[Tower of London]].<ref>{{harvnb|Ross|Richard III|p=42}}</ref> He was released in the middle of July.{{sfn|Davies|1995|p=142}}
On 13 June 1483, Rotherham was charged with being involved in a conspiracy between [[William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings|Lord Hastings]] and the Woodvilles against Richard and imprisoned in the [[Tower of London]].<ref>{{harvnb|Ross|Richard III|p=42}}</ref> He was released in the middle of July.{{sfn|Davies|1995|p=142}}

===Retirement===
===Retirement===
Once again appointed Lord Chancellor in 1485,<ref name=Handbook88/> he was shortly afterwards dismissed by [[Henry VII of England|Henry VII]]. After this he retired from most public work.
Once again appointed Lord Chancellor in 1485,<ref name=Handbook88/> he was shortly afterwards dismissed by [[Henry VII of England|Henry VII]]. After this he retired from most public work.

==Death and memorial==
==Death and memorial==
Rotherham died of the [[Bubonic plague|plague]] in [[Cawood]] near [[York]] on 29 May 1500.<ref name=Handbook282/> His remains were transferred to a magnificent marble tomb in [[York Minster]] in 1506.
Rotherham died of the [[Bubonic plague|plague]] in [[Cawood]] near [[York]] on 29 May 1500.<ref name=Handbook282/> His remains were transferred to a magnificent marble tomb in [[York Minster]] in 1506.
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==Endowments==
==Endowments==


Rotherham built part of [[Lincoln College, Oxford|Lincoln College]], [[University of Oxford|Oxford University]] and increased its [[Financial endowment|endowment]];<ref name=EdwardIV268>{{harvnb|Ross|Edward IV|p=268}}</ref> at Cambridge, where he was four times Chancellor and Master of [[Pembroke Hall]], he helped to build the University Library.
Rotherham built part of [[Lincoln College, Oxford|Lincoln College]], [[University of Oxford|Oxford]], and increased its [[Financial endowment|endowment]];<ref name=EdwardIV268>{{harvnb|Ross|Edward IV|p=268}}</ref> at Cambridge, where he was four times Chancellor and Master of [[Pembroke Hall]], he helped to build the University Library.


In 1480 Rotherham endowed a Chapel of Jesus within Rotherham parish church, with a priest to sing masses for the souls of his ancestors. He founded The College of Jesus in Rotherham as a memorial to his first teacher.<ref name=EdwardIV268/> The foundations of the red brick College were laid at his birthplace in Brookgate in March 1482 and a licence was granted on 22 January 1483 "for the honour and glory of the name of Jesus Christ to found a perpetual College".
In 1480 Rotherham endowed a Chapel of Jesus within Rotherham parish church, providing a priest to sing masses for the souls of his ancestors. He founded the College of Jesus in Rotherham as a memorial to his first teacher.<ref name=EdwardIV268/> The foundations of the red brick College were laid at his birthplace in Brookgate in March 1482 and a licence was granted on 22 January 1483 "for the honour and glory of the name of Jesus Christ to found a perpetual College".


The statutes of the College were dated 1 February 1483. The College of Jesus was to consist of a Provost and three Fellows, all to be in Holy Orders, who must attend church on Sundays and Holy Days. The Fellows were to teach grammar and train the six choristers of Jesus in song and music. They were also to teach promising boys who did not aspire to the priesthood, reading, writing and reckoning, free of charge. If the boys continued to show merit they could learn the rudiments of grammar and music. The college was later dissolved around 1550 by [[Edward VI]] and all its possessions seized by the crown. Very little now remains of the original building, although the street is still known as College Street.
The statutes of the college were dated 1 February 1483. The College of Jesus was to consist of a Provost and three Fellows, all to be in Holy Orders, who must attend church on Sundays and Holy Days. The Fellows were to teach grammar and train the six choristers of Jesus in song and music. They were also to teach promising boys who did not aspire to the priesthood reading, writing, and reckoning, free of charge. If the boys continued to show merit, they should be taught the rudiments of grammar and music. The college was dissolved around 1550 by [[Edward VI of England]] and all its possessions seized by the crown. Very little now remains of the original building, although the street is still known as College Street.


The teaching of grammar to boys continued at Rotherham after the 1550s. The [[Rotherham Grammar School]] looked upon Thomas Rotherham as its founder, took 1483 to be its year of origin, and adopted as its badge the [[armorial bearings]] of Thomas Rotherham. The school took its last intake of boys in September 1966 and was progressively phased-out over the following several years.
The teaching of grammar to boys continued at Rotherham after the 1550s. The [[Rotherham Grammar School]] looked upon Thomas Rotherham as its founder, took 1483 to be its year of origin, and adopted as its badge the [[armorial bearings]] of Thomas Rotherham. The school took its last intake of boys in September 1965 and was progressively phased-out over the following several years.


Rotherham is still remembered in the name of [[Thomas Rotherham College]], which is the post-1967 descendant of Rotherham [[Grammar School]] for Boys.
Rotherham is still remembered in the name of [[Thomas Rotherham College]], which is the post-1967 descendant of the Rotherham Grammar School for Boys.


==Citations==
==Citations==
{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist}}


==References==
==References==
{{refbegin|60em}}
{{refbegin|60em}}
* {{cite encyclopedia |last=Davies |first=Richard G. |year=1995 |title=The Church and the Wars of the Roses |encyclopedia=The Wars of the Roses |editor=Pollard, A. J. |location=New York |publisher=St. Martin's Press |isbn=0-312-12697-2 |ref=harv}}
* {{cite encyclopedia |last=Davies |first=Richard G. |year=1995 |title=The Church and the Wars of the Roses |encyclopedia=The Wars of the Roses |editor=Pollard, A. J. |location=New York |publisher=St. Martin's Press |isbn=0-312-12697-2 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Fryde |first1=E. B. |year=1996 |last2=Greenway |first2=D. E. |last3=Porter |first3=S. |last4=Roy |first4=I. |title=Handbook of British Chronology |edition=Third revised |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge |isbn=0-521-56350-X |ref=harv}}
* {{cite book |last1=Fryde |first1=E. B. |year=1996 |last2=Greenway |first2=D. E. |last3=Porter |first3=S. |last4=Roy |first4=I. |title=Handbook of British Chronology |edition=Third revised |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge |isbn=0-521-56350-X }}
*{{Cite ODNB |last=Horrox |first=Rosemary |year=2004 |title=Rotherham , Thomas (1423–1500) |id=24155}}
*{{Cite ODNB |last=Horrox |first=Rosemary |year=2004 |title=Rotherham, Thomas (1423–1500) |id=24155}}
* {{cite book |last=Ross |first=Charles |authorlink=Charles Ross (historian) |year=1974 |title=Edward IV |location=Berkeley |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=0-520-02781-7 |ref={{harvid |Ross |Edward IV}} }}
* {{cite book |last=Ross |first=Charles |author-link=Charles Ross (historian) |year=1974 |title=Edward IV |location=Berkeley |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=0-520-02781-7 |ref={{harvid |Ross |Edward IV}} }}
* {{cite book |last=Ross |first=Charles |authorlink=Charles Ross (historian) |year=1981 |title=Richard III |location=Berkeley |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=0-520-04589-0 |ref={{harvid |Ross |Richard III}} }}
* {{cite book |last=Ross |first=Charles |author-link=Charles Ross (historian) |year=1981 |title=Richard III |location=Berkeley |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=0-520-04589-0 |ref={{harvid |Ross |Richard III}} }}
{{refend}}
{{refend}}


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{{s-bef| before=[[John Hales (Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield)|John Hales]]}}
{{s-bef| before=[[John Hales (Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield)|John Hales]]}}
{{s-ttl | title=[[Lord Privy Seal]] | years=1471–1474}}
{{s-ttl | title=[[Lord Privy Seal]] | years=1471–1474}}
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{{s-ttl | title=[[Lord Chancellor]] | years=1475–1483}}
{{s-ttl | title=[[Lord Chancellor]] | years=1475–1483}}
|-
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{{s-aft| after=[[John Alcock (bishop)|John Alcock]] }}
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{{s-ttl| title=[[Bishop of Rochester]] | years=1468–1472}}
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{{s-aft | after=[[John Alcock (bishop)|John Alcock]]}}
{{s-aft | after=[[John Alcock (bishop)|John Alcock]]}}
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{{s-end}}
{{s-end}}


{{House of York Lord Chancellors}}
{{House of Tudor Lord Chancellors}}
{{Bishops of Lincoln}}
{{Bishops of Lincoln}}
{{Bishops of Rochester}}
{{Bishops of Rochester}}
{{Archbishops of York}}
{{Archbishops of York}}
{{Chancellors of the University of Cambridge}}


⚫
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2011}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
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{{Use British English|date=June 2013}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Rotherham, Thomas}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rotherham, Thomas}}
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[[Category:Bishops of Rochester]]
[[Category:Bishops of Rochester]]
[[Category:Bishops of Lincoln]]
[[Category:Bishops of Lincoln]]
[[Category:Lord Chancellors of England]]
[[Category:Lord chancellors of England]]
[[Category:Lords Privy Seal]]
[[Category:Lords Privy Seal]]
[[Category:Chancellors of the University of Cambridge]]
[[Category:Chancellors of the University of Cambridge]]
[[Category:People educated at Eton College]]
[[Category:People educated at Eton College]]
[[Category:People from Rotherham]]
[[Category:People from Rotherham]]
[[Category:16th-century English bishops]]
[[Category:15th-century English Roman Catholic archbishops]]
[[Category:15th-century Roman Catholic archbishops]]
[[Category:Masters of Pembroke College, Cambridge]]
[[Category:Masters of Pembroke College, Cambridge]]

Latest revision as of 02:12, 17 December 2023

The Most Reverend and Right Honourable

Thomas Rotherham
Archbishop of York and Primate of England
Portrait of Thomas Rotherham from "Historic Notices of Rotherham", by John Guest,1879
Appointed7 July 1480
Installedunknown
Term ended29 May 1500
PredecessorLawrence Booth
SuccessorThomas Savage
Other post(s)Bishop of Rochester
Bishop of Lincoln
Personal details
Born24 August 1423
Rotherham, Yorkshire
Died29 May 1500(1500-05-29) (aged 76)
Cawood Castle
BuriedYork Minster
NationalityEnglish
DenominationRoman Catholic
EducationEton College
Alma materKing's College, Cambridge

Thomas Rotherham (24 August 1423 – 29 May 1500), also known as Thomas (Scot) de Rotherham, was an English cleric and statesman. He served as bishop of several dioceses, most notably as Archbishop of York and, on two occasions as Lord Chancellor. He is considered a venerable figure in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, his town of birth.

Life[edit]

Background[edit]

Thomas Rotherham was born 24 August 1423 in Rotherham, Yorkshire.[1] He is said to have been the eldest son of Sir Thomas Rotherham of Rotherham by his wife, Dame Alice. From the sixteenth century onwards he was also known by the alternate surname 'Scot', although that surname was not used by Rotherham himself or by his contemporaries. In his will, however, Rotherham does refer to his kinsman John Scott of Ecclesfield, Yorkshire, and it has been speculated that he was the son of Sir John Scott of Scot's Hall in Smeeth, Kent and Agnes Beaufitz.[2] However this claim is said to have been disproved.[3]

Education[edit]

He was first educated as a young boy by a teacher of grammar, who came, according to Thomas, "I know not by what fate save it was the Grace of God". Afterwards he was sent to the newly founded Eton College to prepare for university entrance.

Appointments to office[edit]

Rotherham was educated at King's College, Cambridge, graduating as a Bachelor of Divinity and becoming a Fellow of his college,[4] and lectured on Grammar, Theology, and Philosophy. After his ordination as a priest, he became a prebendary of Lincoln in 1462 and then of Salisbury in 1465. He moved on to powerful positions in the Church, being appointed as Bishop of Rochester in 1468,[5] Bishop of Lincoln in 1472,[6] and then Archbishop of York in 1480, a position he held until 1500.[7]

In 1467, King Edward IV appointed Rotherham as Keeper of the Privy Seal.[8] He was sent as ambassador to France in 1468 and as joint ambassador to Burgundy in 1471, and in 1475 was entrusted with the office of Lord Chancellor.[9] Between 1477 and his death, Rotherham was the owner of Barnes Hall in South Yorkshire.[10]

Involvement in intrigue[edit]

When Edward IV died in April 1483, Rotherham was one of the celebrants of the funeral mass on 20 April 1483.[11] Immediately after Edward's death, Rotherham sided with dowager queen Elizabeth Woodville in her attempt to deprive Richard, Duke of Gloucester of his role as Lord Protector of the new King, her son Edward V. When Elizabeth sought sanctuary after Richard had taken charge of the king, Rotherham released the Great Seal to her. Though he later recovered it and handed it over to Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury,[12] his mishandling of the seal – indicative of questionable loyalty, led to his dismissal as Lord Chancellor. On 13 May he was replaced by John Russell, who earlier had also been his successor as Bishop of Lincoln.

On 13 June 1483, Rotherham was charged with being involved in a conspiracy between Lord Hastings and the Woodvilles against Richard and imprisoned in the Tower of London.[13] He was released in the middle of July.[14]

Retirement[edit]

Once again appointed Lord Chancellor in 1485,[9] he was shortly afterwards dismissed by Henry VII. After this he retired from most public work.

Death and memorial[edit]

Rotherham died of the plague in Cawood near York on 29 May 1500.[7] His remains were transferred to a magnificent marble tomb in York Minster in 1506.

Endowments[edit]

Rotherham built part of Lincoln College, Oxford, and increased its endowment;[15] at Cambridge, where he was four times Chancellor and Master of Pembroke Hall, he helped to build the University Library.

In 1480 Rotherham endowed a Chapel of Jesus within Rotherham parish church, providing a priest to sing masses for the souls of his ancestors. He founded the College of Jesus in Rotherham as a memorial to his first teacher.[15] The foundations of the red brick College were laid at his birthplace in Brookgate in March 1482 and a licence was granted on 22 January 1483 "for the honour and glory of the name of Jesus Christ to found a perpetual College".

The statutes of the college were dated 1 February 1483. The College of Jesus was to consist of a Provost and three Fellows, all to be in Holy Orders, who must attend church on Sundays and Holy Days. The Fellows were to teach grammar and train the six choristers of Jesus in song and music. They were also to teach promising boys who did not aspire to the priesthood reading, writing, and reckoning, free of charge. If the boys continued to show merit, they should be taught the rudiments of grammar and music. The college was dissolved around 1550 by Edward VI of England and all its possessions seized by the crown. Very little now remains of the original building, although the street is still known as College Street.

The teaching of grammar to boys continued at Rotherham after the 1550s. The Rotherham Grammar School looked upon Thomas Rotherham as its founder, took 1483 to be its year of origin, and adopted as its badge the armorial bearings of Thomas Rotherham. The school took its last intake of boys in September 1965 and was progressively phased-out over the following several years.

Rotherham is still remembered in the name of Thomas Rotherham College, which is the post-1967 descendant of the Rotherham Grammar School for Boys.

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ Horrox 2004.
  2. ^ Berry, William, County Genealogies; Pedigrees of the Families of the County of Sussex, (London: Sherwood, Gilbert and Piper), 1830 p. 310 Retrieved 18 September 2013.
  3. ^ Bennett, Henry Leigh, Archbishop Rotherham, (Lincoln: J.W. Ruddock, 1901), pp. 6-7 Retrieved 18 September 2013.
  4. ^ "Rotheram, Thomas (RTRN443T)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  5. ^ Fryde et al. 1996, p. 268
  6. ^ Fryde et al. 1996, p. 256
  7. ^ a b Fryde et al. 1996, p. 282.
  8. ^ Fryde et al. 1996, pp. 95–96.
  9. ^ a b Fryde et al. 1996, p. 88.
  10. ^ "Historic Hallamshire", David Hey, Landmark Collectors Library, ISBN 1 84306 049 3, pp. 51 & 52
  11. ^ Ross & Edward IV, p. 417
  12. ^ Ross & Richard III, p. 76
  13. ^ Ross & Richard III, p. 42
  14. ^ Davies 1995, p. 142.
  15. ^ a b Ross & Edward IV, p. 268

References[edit]

Political offices
Preceded by Lord Privy Seal
1467–1470 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Lord Privy Seal
1471–1474 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Lord Chancellor
1475–1483
Preceded by Lord Chancellor
1485 		Succeeded by
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Rochester
1468–1472 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Bishop of Lincoln
1472–1480 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Archbishop of York
1480–1500 		Succeeded by
Academic offices
Preceded by Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge
1480–1488 		Succeeded by
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