William de Thorpe

Sir William de Thorpe
29th Lord Chief Justice of England
In office 26 November 1346 – 26 October 1350
Monarch	Edward III
Prime Minister	Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (as Lord High Steward)
Chancellor	John de Ufford (1346-1349) John of Thoresby (1349-1350)
Preceded by	William Scott
Succeeded by	William de Shareshull
Personal details
Died	May 27, 1361(1361-05-27)
Nationality	English

Sir William de Thorpe (died 27 May 1361) was an English lawyer, and Chief Justice of the King's Bench from 26 November 1346 to 26 October 1350. As a clerk of this court he was assaulted on one occasion in 1318, when his enemies allegedly even urinated on him. He was knighted in 1345, at the same time as he was made justice of the King's Bench.

Thorpe accumulated great estates, particularly in Lincolnshire, and his wealth must have derived primarily from bribes and maintenance. In 1350 he was imprisoned and condemned to hanging and confiscation of all property. By 1351, however, he had been pardoned and had his property restored. The next year he was made baron of the exchequer, and also held various other commissions. In 1357 he was excommunicated for non-appearance at the trial of Thomas de Lisle, bishop of Ely, in Avignon.

He appears to have had a son by the same name.

Source

• Richard W. Kaeuper, 'Thorp, Sir William (d. 1361)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 accessed 9 Aug 2006

Legal offices
Preceded by William Scott	Lord Chief Justice 1346-1350	Succeeded by William de Shareshull