orig. Nicholas Breakspear
born 1100?, Abbot's Langley, near St. Albans, Hertfordshire, Eng.
died Sept. 1, 1159, Anagni, near Rome [Italy]
Pope (1154–59), the only Englishman ever to hold the office.
He served in France and Italy before a successful mission to Scandinavia led to his election as pope. Adrian crowned Laudabiliter supposedly gave Ireland to {{link=Henry">Henry II of England, a claim that was later refuted. Adrian's refusal to recognize the king of Sicily, William I, stirred revolt in the Campania.