LONGESPEE), 3RD EARL OF (d. 1226), was an illegitimate son of Henry II., who granted him the estates of Appleby, Lincoln shire (1188). In 1198 he received from Richard I. the hand of Isabella, or Ela (d. 1261), daughter and heiress of William, earl of Salisbury, and was granted this title with the lands of the earldom. He was received with favour by King John, who appointed him sheriff of Wiltshire in 1200, and subsequently gave him many important military and diplomatic posts, thus retaining his allegiance during the period of excommunication. In 1213 Salisbury was sent in command of a fleet to attack Philip of France, and, by his successful action at Damme, he foiled the projected invasion of England; but in the following year he was captured by the French and was only exchanged after prolonged negotiations. On his return to England he supported John in opposition to the baronial party, but feeling that the king's cause was hopeless, he surrendered to Louis on his arrival in England.
After the death of John, however, Salisbury deserted the French side in 1217, supported Herbert de Burgh and the young king, Henry III., and was appointed sheriff of Lincoln. It is asserted by Matthew Parker that he took part in the siege of Damietta (1219), but the evidence in support of this is scanty. It is known, however, that he supported the excommunication of William of Aumale in 1221; that he assisted in the war on the Welsh marches (1224) ; and that in 1225 he accompanied the expedition to Gascony. On the return voyage he was wrecked on the isle of Re, and the hardships which he suffered probably hastened his death, which occurred on March 7, 1226, at Salisbury.