William Meldrum (bishop)

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]

William Meldrum
Bishop of Brechin
Church	Roman Catholic
See	Diocese of Brechin
In office	1488–1514x1516
Predecessor	John Balfour
Successor	John Hepburn
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
Previous post	Vicar of Brechin

He was vicar of Brechin parish and a canon of the cathedral when providedbishop 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