Thomas Morton (bishop)


Thomas Morton
Bishop of Durham
Portrait by Simon Luttichuys
DioceseDiocese of Durham
In office1632–1646 (Episcopacy abolished)
PredecessorJohn Howson
SuccessorVacant (Civil War)
Other post(s)Dean of Gloucester (June 1607–1609)
Dean of Winchester (1609–1616)
Bishop of Chester (1616–1619)
Bishop of Coventry & Lichfield (February 1619–1632)
Orders
Ordination1594
Consecration1616
Personal details
Born20 March 1564
Died20 September 1659(1659-09-20) (aged 95)
Easton Maudit, Northamptonshire, England
BuriedEaston Maudit parish church
NationalityEnglish
DenominationAnglican
ResidenceRichard Morton & Elizabeth née Leedale
Spousenever married
Alma materSt John's College, Cambridge

Thomas Morton (20 March 1564  20 September 1659) was an English churchman, bishop of several dioceses. Well-connected and in favour with James I, he was also a significant polemical writer against Roman Catholic views. He rose to become Bishop of Durham, but despite a record of sympathetic treatment of Puritans as a diocesan, and underlying Calvinist beliefs shown in the Gagg controversy, his royalism saw him descend into poverty under the Commonwealth.