John Cameron (bishop)

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John Cameron († 1446) was a 15th century Scottish cleric. He was a canon of Glasgow, a licentiate in decrees (law), provost of Lincluden, a secretary of the king, and official of the bishopric of St Andrews. He began his career as secretary to Archibald Douglas, Earl of Wigtown, who secured for him the living of Rector of Cambuslang. He transferred into the service of King James I as a secretary in July 1424, and became keeper of the privy seal. When William de Lawedre, bishop of Glasgow, another close advisor of King James, died in 1425, James chose John Cameron as his successor. John was thus elected to the see, but it was discovered soon after that the pope had already reserved the see for his own nomination. Nevertheless, Pope Martin V provided him to the see on April 22, 1426. He was consecrated sometime in 1427.

John was one of the most intimate advisors and associates of King James, and suffered unpopularity as a result of many of James' actions. On a number of occasions he faced accusations of improper conduct from the papacy, and was accused of being a bad influence on the king, although in reality John was James' man, not the other way around. John served as an ambassador too, serving on embassies to England in 1429, 1430, and 1431. In November 1432, John passed through England again, this time on his way to Rome. He was in Bologna in July 1436, but back in Scotland by September 1437.

He died on December 24, 1446 at Lochwood, seven miles from the burgh of Glasgow.

[edit] References

• Brown, Michael, The Stewart Dynasty in Scotland: James I, (East Linton, 1994)
• Dowden, John, The Bishops of Scotland, ed. J. Maitland Thomson, (Glasgow, 1912)

Religious Posts
Preceded by William de Lawedre	Bishop of Glasgow 1425/6/7-1446	Succeeded by James Bruce
Political offices
Preceded by Walter Foote	Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland 1426	Succeeded by William Foulis
Preceded by William de Lawedre	Chancellor of Scotland 1427-1439	Succeeded by William Crichton