William Meldrum (bishop)

William Meldrum
Bishop of Brechin
Church	Roman Catholic
See	Diocese of Brechin
In office	1488–1514x1516
Predecessor	John Balfour
Successor	John Hepburn
Previous post(s)	Vicar of Brechin
Orders
Consecration	30 January x 7 July 1489
Personal details
Born	c. mid-15th century Perhaps Seggie, Fife
Died	8 December 1514 x 19 March 1516 unknown

William Meldrum (died 1514 × 1516) was a prelate in the late 15th- and early 16th-century kingdom of Scotland. He appears to have come from the Meldrum family of Seggie, as suggested by the otters on his arms.[1]

He was vicar of Brechin parish and a canon of the cathedral when provided bishop of Brechin 4 July 1488.[2] His appointment had been foreseen before the death of his predecessor John Balfour; by 4 June 1488 Meldrum had been selected to succeed to the bishopric upon the expected "resignation or death of the reverend father in Christ, John Balfour, now bishop of Brechin".[2]

He was consecrated sometime between 30 January (described as "elect") and 7 July (described as "bishop") 1489.[2] Bishop Meldrum is recorded for the last time in possession of the see on 8 December 1514, and is dead by 19 March 1516, dying at some stage between.[3] He was succeeded by John Hepburn.[4]

Notes

1. Dowden, Bishops, pp. 188–89
2. Dowden, Bishops, p. 188; Watt and Murray, Fasti Ecclessiae, p. 55
3. Watt and Murray, Fasti Ecclessiae, p. 55
4. Dowden, Bishops, p. 189; Watt and Murray, Fasti Ecclessiae, p. 55

References

• Dowden, John (1912), The Bishops of Scotland : Being Notes on the Lives of All the Bishops, under Each of the Sees, Prior to the Reformation, Glasgow: James Maclehose and Sons
• Watt, D. E. R.; Murray, A. L., eds. (2003), Fasti Ecclesiae Scotinanae Medii Aevi ad annum 1638, The Scottish Record Society, New Series, Volume 25 (Revised ed.), Edinburgh: The Scottish Record Society, ISBN 0-902054-19-8, ISSN 0143-9448

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by John Balfour	Bishop of Brechin 1488–1514x1516	Succeeded by John Hepburn