Richard Sampson

Richard Sampson

Richard Sampson is an English clergyman and composer of sacred music from England. He dies in 1554.

Early education and church career

He is educated at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, the Paris Sorbonne and Sens in France, and becomes Doctor of Canon Law. He is appointed by Cardinal Wolsey as diocesan chancellor and vicar-general in the bishopric of Tournai, where he lives until 1517.

He then holds a series of English church offices, including Dean of St. Stephen's, Westminster and of the Chapel Royal in 1516, Archdeacon of Cornwall in 1517, prebendary of Newbald in 1519, Dean of Windsor in 1523, Vicar of Stepney in 1526, Archdeacon of Suffolk in 1529, and prebends at St. Paul's Cathedral and Lichfield.

Diplomatic and political role

From 1522 to 1525, he serves as English ambassador to Emperor Charles V. He also becomes one of Henry VIII's chief agents in the royal divorce proceedings, which contributes to his advancement in the church.

Bishoprics and later offices

He is awarded the deanery of Lichfield in 1533, the rectory of Hackney in 1534, and the treasurership of Salisbury in 1535. On 11 June 1536, he is elected Bishop of Chichester. On 19 February 1543, he is translated to the bishopric of Coventry and Lichfield by royal authority alone, without papal confirmation. He holds that bishopric through the reign of Edward VI.

Writings

His writings include an Oratio in defence of the royal prerogative, which appears in 1533, an explanation of the Psalms from 1539 to 1548, and an explanation of the Epistle to the Romans in 1546.

He dies at Eccleshall in Staffordshire.