He was the son of John de Havering, Sheriff of Hampshire and Seneschal of Gascony and his wife Margaret.
He held the post of Constable of Bordeaux (also referred to as the king's clerk or Secretary of State).
He was elected Archbishop of Dublin in March 1307 and appointed 10 July of that year; although he received possession of the see's temporalities on 13 September 1307, he was never consecrated and after enjoying the dignity and profits of the see resigned 21 November 1310.
He was then presented the post of Prebendary of Aylesbury in 1310 after being chosen by the new Archbishop of Dublin, John de Leche.
His father collected money for the repair of buildings at Winchester Castle and specific amounts remained outstanding on the account.