John de Innes
John de Innes (c. 1370 – 1414) was medieval Scottish churchman. Born probably in Moray, he went to France in his youth, receiving a bachelorate in civil law from the University of Paris by 1396 and in canon law by 1407.[1] His education was partly paid for by the prebend of Duffus and a grant from Alexander Bur, Bishop of Moray, taken by Bur from the judicial profits of his diocese.[1] During Innes' study period, he was also pursuing an ecclesiastical career, being Archdeacon of Caithness from 1396 until 1398,[2] and Dean of Ross, from some point between 1396 and 1398 until 1407.[3]
John de Innes | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Moray | |
 | |
| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| See | Diocese of Moray |
| In office | 1407–1414 |
| Predecessor | William de Spynie |
| Successor | Henry de Lichton |
| Orders | |
| Consecration | January 1407 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1370 Moray |
| Died | 1414 Elgin |
| Previous post | Archdeacon of Caithness (1396–1398) |
He gave up the latter position in that year, having been elected as Bishop of Moray sometime in late 1406, and receiving consecration from Pope Benedict XIII in either Italy or southern France in the following January.[4] Innes was bishop for over seven years, and died at Elgin on 2 August 1414. Innes has been traditionally credited with supervising much of the rebuilding to Elgin Cathedral.[1] The historian David Ditchburn believes Innes was an ally, and possibly even a client, of Alexander Stewart, Earl of Mar, and perhaps his father Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, the latter of whom was the warlord responsible for burning down Elgin Cathedral during the episcopate of Alexander Bur.[1]
Notes
- Ditchburn, "Innes, John (c. 1370–1414)".
- Watt, Fasti Ecclesiae, p. 71; it is also possible that he was Archdeacon of Brechin in 1397, but this is probably an error: see Watt, Fasti Ecclesiae, p. 55.
- Watt, Fasti Ecclesiae, p. 272.
- Dowden, Bishops of Scotland, p. 157; Ditchburn, "Innes, John (c. 1370–1414)"; Watt, Fasti Ecclesiae, p. 215; Ditchburn gives Marseilles, Dowden gives Avignon, and Watt gives Italy.
References
- Dowden, John, The Bishops of Scotland, ed. J. Maitland Thomson, (Glasgow, 1912)
- Ditchburn, David, "Innes, John (c. 1370–1414)", in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 accessed 24 Feb 2007
- Watt, D.E.R., Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae Medii Aevi ad annum 1638, 2nd Draft, (St Andrews, 1969)
| Religious titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by William Forrester |
Archdeacon of Caithness 1396–1398 |
Succeeded by Alexander Vaus |
| Preceded by William de Spynie |
Bishop of Moray 1407–1414 |
Succeeded by Henry de Lichton |