James Ben, bishop of St Andrews (d. 1332)
- Biography
- Family origins unknown. Ben was a graduate (university unknown) and career cleric. He served as archdeacon of St Andrews 1323-5 and from 1326 was employed as a diplomat by Robert I. He seems to have acted as the king’s resident papal envoy in 1326-9. After the death of Bishop William Lamberton of St Andrews in May 1328 Ben was elected as his successor and returned to Scotland early in 1329 to take up his diocesan duties. In November 1331 he crowned and anointed Robert I’s successor, David II, at Scone. He fled to Flanders after Edward Balliol’s triumph over Bruce forces at Dupplin Muir in August 1332 and died in Bruges on 22 September of that year.
https://doi-org.ezproxy.is.ed.ac.uk/10.1093/ref:odnb/2073