Walter de Thornbury

Who is Walter de Thornbury?

Walter de Thornbury was an English-born statesman and cleric in 14th century Ireland who held the office of Lord Chancellor of Ireland; his efforts to secure confirmation of his election as Archbishop of Dublin were cut short by his death in a shipwreck.

He was born in Herefordshire, where he later owned the manor of Wolferlow. He was closely associated with the Mortimer family: he was executor of Edmund Mortimer, 2nd Baron Mortimer. and guardian to his son Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March. Given Roger's later role as the killer of KIng Edward II, it is perhaps ironic that Walter owed his rise largely to his friendship with the King's favourite Piers Gaveston, who was Roger's co-guardian.

He was sent to Ireland as Chancellor of the Exchequer of Ireland in 1308 and became Lord Chancellor of Ireland the following year, on Piers Gaveston's recommendation. He was deputy Treasurer of Ireland in 1311, and Treasurer of St. Patrick's Cathedral. He accompanied Gaveston on his largely successful campaign to restore the Crown's authority in Leinster in 1309, in which he defeated the O'Byrne clan and restored order in the neighbourhood of Glendalough.

In 1313 he was one of two candidates for Archbishop of Dublin, the other being Alexander de Bicknor. Thornbury set out for Avignon to secure Papal confirmation; the ship sank in a storm with the loss of all lives, said to number 135.