Bradwardine, Thomas (c. 1290-1349)

English prelate, archbishop of Canterbury in 1349. He became known as a lecturer and writer, especially against Pelagianism. He was made chancellor of the London diocese and chaplain to Edward III, whom he accompanied during the Crécy campaign and the siege of Calais during the first part of the Hundred Years' War with France. Returning to England, he was made prebendary and then archdeacon of Lincoln. He died of the Black Death a few weeks after his appointment as archbishop of Canterbury.

A native of Sussex, he was educated at Merton College, Oxford, where he rose to be doctor and professor of divinity, and chancellor of the university. He was known for his learning as ‘Doctor Profundus’.