Thomas Beckington
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Thomas Beckington (Also spelt Beckyngton) (c. 1390 – January 14, 1465), English statesman and prelate, was born at Beckington in Somerset, and was educated at Winchester and New College, Oxford.
Having entered the Church he held many ecclesiastical appointments, and became dean of the Arches in 1423; then devoting his time to secular affairs he was sent on an embassy to Calais in 1439, and to John IV, count of Armagnac, in 1442.
At this time Beckington was acting as secretary to Henry VI, and soon after his return in 1443 he was appointed Lord Privy Seal and bishop of Bath and Wells. The bishop erected many buildings in Wells, and died there on the 14th of January 1465. He may also have altered the rectory at Sutton Courtenay in Berkshire, now known as The Abbey. The most important results of Beckington's missions to France were one Latin journal, written by himself, referring to the embassy to Calais; and another, written by one of his attendants, relating to the journey to Armagnac.
Beckington's own journal is published in the Proceedings of the Privy Council, vol. v., edited by NH Nicolas (1835); and the other journal in the Official Correspondence of Thomas Bekynton, edited by G Williams for the Rolls Series (1872), which contains many interesting letters. This latter journal has been translated into English by NH Nicolas (1828). See GG Perry, Bishop Beckington and Henry VI., in the English Historical Review (1894).
Beckington is buried at Wells Cathedral and has an unusual monument there. When his tomb was opened during victorian times he was found to be buried very simply (as depicted on his tomb) and the only only ornament that he was buried with was his Bishop's ring - this was removed and is now in a museum.
[edit] Source
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
| Preceded by John Stafford |
Bishop of Bath and Wells 1434–1465 |
Succeeded by Robert Stillington |
| Preceded by William Lyndwood |
Lord Privy Seal 1443–1444 |
Succeeded by Thomas Moleyns |
