Life
Born in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, Rotherham was the eldest son of Sir Thomas Rotherham, of Brookgate in Rotherham, and his wife, Alice Scot. He was first educated as a young boy by a teacher of grammar, who came, according to Thomas, "I know not by what fate save it was the Grace of God". Afterwards he was sent to the newly founded Eton College in order to prepare for university entrance.
Rotherham attended King's College, Cambridge, becoming a Bachelor of Divinity and a Fellow of King's, and lectured on Grammar, Theology and Philosophy. After his ordination as a priest he served in many powerful positions in the Church, becoming prebendary of Lincoln in 1462 and of Salisbury in 1465. He was appointed Bishop of Rochester in 1468, Bishop of Lincoln in 1472, and then Archbishop of York from 1480 to 1500.
King Edward IV appointed Rotherham Keeper of the Privy Seal in 1467. He became ambassador to France in 1468, joint ambassador to Burgundy in 1471 and in 1474 was entrusted with the office of Lord Chancellor.
When Edward IV died in April 1483, Rotherham was one of the celebrants of the funeral mass on 20 April 1483. Immediately after Edward's death, Rotherham sided with dowager queen Elizabeth Woodville in her attempt to deprive Richard, Duke of Gloucester of his role as Lord Protector of the new King, her son Edward V. When Elizabeth sought sanctuary after Richard had taken charge of the king, Rotherham released the Great Seal to her. Though he later recovered it and handed it over to Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury., his mishandling of the seal – indicative of questionale loyalty, led to his dismissal as Lord Chancellor. On 13 May he was replaced by John Russell, who earlier had also been his successor as Bishop of Lincoln.
On 13 June 1483, Rotherham was charged with being involved in a conspiracy between Lord Hastings and the Woodvilles against Richard and imprisoned in the Tower of London. He was released in the middle of July.
Once again appointed Lord Chancellor in 1485, he was shortly afterwards dismissed by Henry VII. After this he retired from most public work.
Rotherham died of the plague in Cawood near York on 29 May 1500. His remains were transferred to a magnificent marble tomb in York Minster in 1506.
Read more about this topic: Thomas Rotherham
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