John de Gray

John de Gray.
John de Gray (died 1214) was a medieval English Bishop of Norwich. He was employed in the service of King John even before the coronation, for which de Gray was rewarded with various ecclesiastical offices, culminating in his pro forma election to Norwich in 1200. He continued in royal service after his elevation to the episcopate, lending John money and undertaking diplomatic missions on his behalf. In 1205 John attempted to further reward de Gray by making him Archbishop of Canterbury, but a disputed election process led to de Gray's selection being quashed by Pope Innocent III in 1206. Stephen Langton was consecrated as archbishop against John's wishes, triggering a long dispute with the papacy. The pope imposed various sanctions on England and John. In 1209 de Gray became governor of Ireland for John, and spent until 1213 attempting to impose royal government there on the Anglo-Norman barons and the native Irish. He travelled to Rome to secure a papal pardon after the final settlement of the dispute with John. After the pardon, de Gray was appointed Bishop of Durham, but he died on his way back to England.