Hugh of Avalon (also known as Hugh of Burgundy), was born in 1140 at Avalon Castle, Burgundy, France , the son of William, Lord of Avalon . His mother Anna died when he was 8, and he was raised and educated at a convent at Villard-Benoit.

Hugh did very well, and was suited to the monastic religious life, becoming Deacon at 19. LAter on he was Prior of the monastery at Saint-Maxim.

King Henry II, as part of his penance for the murder of Thomas Becket, built a Carthusian Monastry in 1175, and Hugh was dispatched to run it.His reputation for holiness spread through England, and attracted many to the monastery. He admonished Henry for keeping dioceses vacant in order to keep their income for the throne.

This was not a good plan, and Henry made him Bishop of Lincoln, and sent him to sort out the parish, on 21 September 1181. The Cathedral had been destroyed by earthquake in 1185, and Hugh set about rebuilding and enlarging it. He accepted the part time role of diplomat to France for King John in 1199, a trip that ruined his health. While attending a national council in London a few months later, he was stricken with an unnamed ailment, and died two months later on 16 November 1200.

Hugh's primary emblem is a white swan, in reference to the story of the swan of Stowe which had a deep and lasting friendship for the saint, even guarding him while he slept. The swan would follow him about constantly, and was his constant companion whilst he was at Lincoln.

He was canonized by Pope Honorius III in 1220, and is the Patron Saint of sick children, sick people, and swans.