William Cumin

William Cumin (or de Comyn or de Commines) (died ) was a bishop of Durham, and Justiciar of Scotland.

Life Several Cumins were clerks in the chanceries of King Henry I of England and King Henry II of England, as well as in the dioceses of Rouen and Bayeux. A John Cumin, who became Bishop of Dublin in 1182 may also have been a relative. William Cumin was Archdeacon of Worcester by March 1125 and the chancellor of King David I of Scotland before 1136. Cumin was educated by Geoffrey Rufus, who had been chancellor to King Henry I of England and Bishop of Durham. Cumin was captured at the Battle of the Standard in August 1138, but was set free at the instigation of the papal legate, Alberic of Ostia. When David came south to meet with the Empress, he stopped in Durham, where he refused to allow the burial of the previous bishop until Cumin was allowed into the see. Cumin was intruded into the see of Durham about 11 May 1141, but was never consecrated.

By 1142, David had withdrawn his support, and Cumin resorted to using a forged letter of support from the papacy in an attempt to get consecrated.

Two of Cumin's nephews served as knights in Scotland. William is noted as a knight by the Durham chronicle, and Osbert served Henry, earl of Northumberland. Both died in the before 1144 during the conflicts in Durham. Another nephew, Richard Comyn, received the honour of Richmond as part of his uncle's settlement at Durham. Richard was the ancestor of the Comyn family of Scotland.