Pope Adrian IV, born Nicholas Breakspear, is the only Briton to have held the title of . He was born around 1100 in Bedmond, , and came from humble beginnings. His father was a clerk who entered the monastery after the death of his wife, resulting in Nicholas having to fend for himself.

Initially, he was rejected from , partly due to a lack of education, which led him to travel to France to pursue a life in the church. Nicholas then studied religious education, becoming a regular at St Rufus Monastery. He then rose quickly through the ranks, becoming an abbot. His ascent caught the attention of Pope Eugene III, who became fond of Nicholas.

A short while later, he was announced Cardinal Bishop of Albano in December 1149. He was tasked with many important responsibilities which included reorganising the church in Scandinavia.

He based himself there for two years as a papal legate - a personal representative of the Pope to foreign nations - which proved to be successful, winning him the respect of the Pope at the time.

Nicholas reorganised the Swedish church and established an independent archiepiscopal church for Norway, creating a Diocese at the Norwegian town of Hamar. This led to a significant and long-lasting effect on the country's education system.

Following this, Nicholas travelled to Rome where he was unanimously elected as Pope Adrian IV on 4th December 1154 - the 170th pope.

After his appointment, he was faced with numerous challenges including the ongoing problems caused by a leading anti-pope figure. The power struggles between the Church and the Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick I Barbarossa resulted in a turbulent reign.

However, Pope Adrian made peace in the city of Rome after resisting the emperor's attempts to secure control.

Pope Adrian remained in the post until his death in 1159. He reportedly died choking on a fly in his wine, with some historians claiming this triggered a tonsil infection, which resulted in his death.

Nicholas remains the only Englishman to have ever served as pope.

While the election of a pope traditionally comes from the College of Cardinals, it is technically possible for any baptised Catholic man to be chosen.

However, the vast majority of popes have been cardinals, making it unlikely for a non-cardinal to ascend to the role. As of now, there are no prominent English cardinals in contention for the position.