Walter de Merton

(d. 1277).

Clerical statesman. Educated at Oxford, Walter became a clerk in Chancery and amassed a large number of livings. In 1261–3 he was chancellor but was forced out by de Montfort's party and not reinstated after the royal victory at Evesham. But he acted as chancellor once more 1272–4 after Henry's death and while Edward I was absent on crusade. For the last three years of his life he was bishop of Rochester. He was the founder in 1264 of Merton College, Oxford.