William Turnbull (died 1454) was a Scottish politician and bishop, credited with founding Jedburgh Grammar School and the

University of Glasgow , image = UofG Coat of Arms.png , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of arms Flag , latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis , motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita , ...

. He served as the

Bishop of Glasgow The Archbishop of Glasgow is an archiepiscopal title that takes its name after the city of Glasgow in Scotland. The position and title were abolished by the Church of Scotland in 1689; and, in the Scottish Episcopal Church, it is now part of th ...

, from 1448 to 1454 and was the first

Chancellor of the University of Glasgow The Chancellor is the titular head of the University of Glasgow and President of the General Council, by whom they are elected. The office is intended to be held for life. Their principal duty is to confer degrees upon those presented to them b ...

Biography

He came from Bedrule in the Scottish Borders, where a plaque in the local church is erected in his memory. He studied arts at the

University of St Andrews (Aien aristeuein) , motto_lang = grc , mottoeng = Ever to ExcelorEver to be the Best , established = , type = Public research university Ancient university , endowment ...

(1419),

canon law Canon law (from grc, κανών, , a 'straight measuring rod, ruler') is a set of ordinances and regulations made by ecclesiastical authority (church leadership) for the government of a Christian organization or church and its members. It is th ...

at the University of Leuven, and went on to study at the

University of Pavia The University of Pavia ( it, Università degli Studi di Pavia, UNIPV or ''Università di Pavia''; la, Alma Ticinensis Universitas) is a university located in Pavia, Lombardy, Italy. There was evidence of teaching as early as 1361, making it one ...

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

, for a doctorate in canon law (1439). Upon his return to Scotland, he befriended

King James II James VII and II (14 October 1633 16 September 1701) was King of England and King of Ireland as James II, and King of Scotland as James VII from the death of his elder brother, Charles II, on 6 February 1685. He was deposed in the Glorious Re ...

and became Keeper of the Privy Seal (1440–1448) and ''Royal Secretary'' (1441–1442). In 1447 he was appointed

Bishop of Dunkeld The Bishop of Dunkeld is the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Dunkeld, one of the largest and more important of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics, whose first recorded bishop is an early 12th-century cleric named Cormac. However, the first ...

, then a year later Bishop of Glasgow which he held until his death in 1454. On 28 October 1447, John Pigott, the manorial lord, presented Ven William Turnbull, "Bishop of Dunkeld," to the Rectory of

Abington Pigotts Abington Pigotts is a small village in Cambridgeshire, England about 4 miles (6 km) northwest of Royston, Hertfordshire. History The parish of Abington Pigotts covers an area of . Roughly circular in shape it is surrounded by the parishes of ...

, in the Diocese of Ely. During his time as Bishop, he pursued the formation of a

university A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States ...

in Glasgow with the encouragement of King James. On 7 January 1451,

Pope Nicholas V Pope Nicholas V ( la, Nicholaus V; it, Niccolò V; 13 November 1397 – 24 March 1455), born Tommaso Parentucelli, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 6 March 1447 until his death in March 1455. Pope Eugene made ...

issued a papal bull decreeing the foundation of the

University of Glasgow , image = UofG Coat of Arms.png , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of arms Flag , latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis , motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita , ...

, which started classes in the

Glasgow Cathedral Glasgow Cathedral ( gd, Cathair-eaglais Ghlaschu) is a parish church of the Church of Scotland in Glasgow, Scotland. It is the oldest cathedral in mainland Scotland and the oldest building in Glasgow. The cathedral was the seat of the Archbisho ...

buildings, with Turnbull as the first chancellor. Turnbull is credited with founding Jedburgh Grammar School at Jedburgh Abbey.

Turnbull High School Turnbull High School is a co-educational comprehensive Secondary School located in Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire, Scotland. The school was named after William Turnbull, Bishop of Glasgow from 1448 to 1454, and founder of the University of ...

Bishopbriggs Bishopbriggs ( sco, The Briggs; gd, Achadh an Easbaig) is a town in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland. It lies on the northern fringe of Greater Glasgow, approximately from the city centre. Historically in Lanarkshire, the area was once part of ...

is named after him, as is Turnbull Hall, the Catholic Chaplaincy at the University of Glasgow.

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Turnbull, William 1454 deaths 15th-century Scottish Roman Catholic bishops Bishops of Dunkeld (non consecrated, titular or doubtful) Bishops of Glasgow Chancellors of the University of Glasgow Founders of Scottish schools and colleges Alumni of the University of St Andrews Old University of Leuven alumni University of Pavia alumni Members of the Privy Council of Scotland Year of birth unknown