Langham, Simon de (c.1310–1376)

English churchman, archbishop of Canterbury 1366–69. In 1368 he was made a cardinal and summoned to Avignon, where the Popes had their residence 1309–78. He died in Avignon, but his body was taken back to England; his tomb is the oldest ecclesiastical monument in Westminster Abbey

Simon de Langham was born in Rutland. He became prior and abbot of Westminster in 1349, where he carried out important works, including the completion of the cloisters. In 1360 he was appointed treasurer of England, in 1361 he became bishop of Ely, and in 1363 became chancellor.