John Salmon (died 1325) was a medieval Bishop of Norwich.
Life Salmon's family was hereditary goldsmiths to the diocese of Ely. His parents were Salomon and Alice, and he was the eldest of three brothers. He entered the Benedictine priory of Ely sometime before 1291.Buck "Salmon, John" Oxford Dictionary of National Biography He was subprior of Ely Cathedral before his election to be Prior of Ely in 1292.Greenway Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300: Volume 2: Monastic Cathedrals (Northern and Southern Provinces): Ely: Priors
Salmon was elected to the see of Ely in 1298 but King Edward I of England objected, wanting the monks to elect his chancellor John Langton instead. Each side appealed to Rome, and both elections were quashed by Pope Boniface VIII on 5 June 1299.Greenway Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300: Volume 2: Monastic Cathedrals (Northern and Southern Provinces): Ely: Bishops As a consolation, he was provided to the see of Norwich between 5 and 18 June 1299Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 261 as he was still prior on 5 June.Greenway British History Online Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300: Volume 2: Monastic Cathedrals (Northern and Southern Provinces): Norwich: Bishops He was consecrated on 15 November 1299.
In 1307 Salmon helped arrange the marriage of the new king, Edward II, and in 1309 he was sent by the king to Rome to obtain the return from exile of Piers Gaveston. On 20 March 1311 he was elected one of the Lords Ordainers to help King Edward II govern.Powell and Wallis House of Lords p. 275 and footnote 78 Over the next few years he was often in the king's service, being sent on diplomatic missions and negotiating with the earl of Lancaster for the king.
Salmon occupied the office of Lord Chancellor of England from 1320 to 1323.Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 86 He accompanied the king on his travels, and helped negotiate with France and Scotland. He resigned the office in 1323 due to ill health, but continued to work on the king's behalf.
Salmon died on 6 July 1325 at Folkestone while returning from a diplomatic mission in France. He was buried in Norwich Cathedral.
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