Henry de Cornhill

Henry de Cornhill (c. 1135 – c. 1193) was a medieval English royal official and sheriff who served King Henry II of England. Henry's son King Richard I of England put him in charge of assembling part of the fleet for the Third Crusade, plus appointing him as sheriff of three jurisdictions. Through marriage he acquired lands in Somerset, Dorset, Oxfordshire, and Northamptonshire.

Early life Henry de Cornhill was the eldest son of Gervase de Cornhill, a royal official and Sheriff of Kent, Surrey, and London during the reign of King Henry II. Henry de Cornhill was likely born around 1135. Henry married Alice, the daughter of William de Courcy, and sister and heiress of William de Courcy, lord of Stogursey in Somerset. Through this marriage, Henry acquired lands in Somerset, Dorset, Oxfordshire, and Northamptonshire worth 25 and a quarter knight's fees. Henry was present at the deathbed of Henry II in 1189. The new king, Richard I, kept Henry close and put him in charge of assembling the fleet that Richard needed to go on the Third Crusade.

Henry was appointed to the office of Sheriff of Surrey early in the reign of King Richard I. He was also Sheriff of Kent during Richard's reign, in 1190 as well as one of the Sheriffs of London from 1187 to 1189. He owed his appointments to the influence of William Longchamp, Richard's chancellor. He was also Warden of the Mint in 1191. Henry lost his offices when Longchamp fell from favour in 1192. He died sometime between Michaelmas 1192 and Michaelmas 1193.