John de Pilmuir

John de Pilmuir [Pilmor, Pylmore] (died 1362) was a 14th-century prelate based in Scotland. He was probably the son of Adam de Pilmuir, a Dundee burgess, and the brother of Richard de Pilmuir, Bishop of Dunkeld (1337/38–1345/47).

Originally a canon of the diocese of Ross, on 30 March 1326, he was consecrated by Pope John XXII as Bishop of Moray at Avignon. The diocese of Moray had been reserved during the episcopate of David de Moravia, and this along with the lack of any record of an election in Moray makes it probable that Pilmuir's was a direct appointment of the Papacy. John had previously been the vicar in spirituals of Pierre Roger, Archbishop of Rouen, the future Pope Clement VI.

During his rule, Bishop Pilmuir was a frequent petitioner to the Papacy. He completed the foundation of the Scots College in Paris, initiated by his predecessor in Moray David de Moravia. The College would remain the responsibility of the Bishops of Moray until the Reformation. Bishop John died at episcopal residence of Spynie Castle on 28 September 1362. His episcopate was followed by the famous and eventful episcopate of Alexander Bur.

References

• Dowden, John, The Bishops of Scotland, ed. J. Maitland Thomson, (Glasgow, 1912)
• Keith, Robert, An Historical Catalogue of the Scottish Bishops: Down to the Year 1688, (London, 1924)
• Watt, D.E.R., Fasti Ecclesiae Scotinanae Medii Aevi ad annum 1638, 2nd Draft, (St Andrews, 1969)