George Harding, 8th Baron Berkeley
Encyclopedia
George Harding, 8th Baron Berkeley (1601 – August 10, 1658) was a seventeenth-century English nobleman and a prominent patron of literature in his generation.
Berkeley supported a range of important writers in the Jacobean and Caroline eras. A number of significant figures dedicated their works to him in gratitude of his patronage—or in hope of receiving it. These included Robert Burton
, who dedicated The Anatomy of Melancholy
to Berkeley upon its publication in 1621. Berkeley was a notable patron of English Renaissance drama
: Philip Massinger
dedicated his play The Renegado
to Berkeley on its 1630 publication, as James Shirley
did his The Young Admiral
in 1637. And John Webster
dedicated The Duchess of Malfi
to Berkeley in 1623. The wording of Webster's dedication shows that Webster was seeking Berkeley's patronage rather than acknowledging support already given; it is not known to what degree the supplication was effective.
George Harding attained his title, Baron Berkeley of Berkeley, Mowbray, Segrave, & Breuse of Gower, upon the death of his grandfather Henry Harding, 7th Baron, on November 26, 1613. (Due to a confusion of the first and second creations of the title Baron Berkeley
, George Harding is sometimes cited as the 13th Baron rather than the 8th.) His family seat was at Berkeley Castle
in Gloucestershire
. He was made a Knight of the Order of the Bath
on November 4, 1616, when Prince Charles
was made Prince of Wales
. He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford
, and received his M.A. degree from the university in 1623. He was made a member of the Council of Wales and the Marches in 1633.
Harding married Elizabeth Stanhope, second daughter of Sir Michael Stanhope of Sudborn, Suffolk
, on April 13, 1614. Through is own family and through his wife's, George Harding was connected with established traditions of support for literature. His maternal grandfather had backed of the Lord Chamberlain's Men
, the acting company of William Shakespeare
. George Harding himself has been described as "a friend of the King's Men
." His wife was connected to Katherine Stanhope, the dedicatee of Massinger's The Duke of Milan
.
Upon his death in 1658, the 8th Baron was succeeded by his second son, also named George Harding, as 9th Baron Berkeley.
(Note: members of the Berkeley family
, the descendants of Robert Fitzharding, are often identified with the Berkeley surname; George Harding, 8th Baron, is George Berkeley in many sources. In his own era, however, in the dedications of contemporaneous works like The Duchess of Malfi, he is consistently identified as George Harding.)
Berkeley supported a range of important writers in the Jacobean and Caroline eras. A number of significant figures dedicated their works to him in gratitude of his patronage—or in hope of receiving it. These included Robert Burton
Robert Burton (scholar)
Robert Burton was an English scholar at Oxford University, best known for the classic The Anatomy of Melancholy. He was also the incumbent of St Thomas the Martyr, Oxford, and of Segrave in Leicestershire.-Life:...
, who dedicated The Anatomy of Melancholy
The Anatomy of Melancholy
The Anatomy of Melancholy The Anatomy of Melancholy The Anatomy of Melancholy (Full title: The Anatomy of Melancholy, What it is: With all the Kinds, Causes, Symptomes, Prognostickes, and Several Cures of it. In Three Maine Partitions with their several Sections, Members, and Subsections...
to Berkeley upon its publication in 1621. Berkeley was a notable patron of English Renaissance drama
English Renaissance theatre
English Renaissance theatre, also known as early modern English theatre, refers to the theatre of England, largely based in London, which occurred between the Reformation and the closure of the theatres in 1642...
: Philip Massinger
Philip Massinger
Philip Massinger was an English dramatist. His finely plotted plays, including A New Way to Pay Old Debts, The City Madam and The Roman Actor, are noted for their satire and realism, and their political and social themes.-Early life:The son of Arthur Massinger or Messenger, he was baptized at St....
dedicated his play The Renegado
The Renegado
The Renegado, or The Gentleman of Venice is a late Jacobean stage play, a tragicomedy written by Philip Massinger and first published in 1630...
to Berkeley on its 1630 publication, as James Shirley
James Shirley
James Shirley was an English dramatist.He belonged to the great period of English dramatic literature, but, in Lamb's words, he "claims a place among the worthies of this period, not so much for any transcendent genius in himself, as that he was the last of a great race, all of whom spoke nearly...
did his The Young Admiral
The Young Admiral
The Young Admiral is a Caroline era tragicomedy written by James Shirley, and first published in 1637. It has often been considered Shirley's best tragicomedy, and one of his best plays....
in 1637. And John Webster
John Webster
John Webster was an English Jacobean dramatist best known for his tragedies The White Devil and The Duchess of Malfi, which are often regarded as masterpieces of the early 17th-century English stage. He was a contemporary of William Shakespeare.- Biography :Webster's life is obscure, and the dates...
dedicated The Duchess of Malfi
The Duchess of Malfi
The Duchess of Malfi is a macabre, tragic play written by the English dramatist John Webster in 1612–13. It was first performed privately at the Blackfriars Theatre, then before a more general audience at The Globe, in 1613-14...
to Berkeley in 1623. The wording of Webster's dedication shows that Webster was seeking Berkeley's patronage rather than acknowledging support already given; it is not known to what degree the supplication was effective.
George Harding attained his title, Baron Berkeley of Berkeley, Mowbray, Segrave, & Breuse of Gower, upon the death of his grandfather Henry Harding, 7th Baron, on November 26, 1613. (Due to a confusion of the first and second creations of the title Baron Berkeley
Baron Berkeley
The title Baron Berkeley originated as a feudal title and was subsequently created twice in the Peerage of England by writ. It was first granted by writ to Thomas II de Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley, 6th feudal Baron Berkeley, in 1295, but the title of that creation became extinct at the death of...
, George Harding is sometimes cited as the 13th Baron rather than the 8th.) His family seat was at Berkeley Castle
Berkeley Castle
Berkeley Castle is a castle in the town of Berkeley, Gloucestershire, UK . The castle's origins date back to the 11th century and it has been designated by English Heritage as a grade I listed building.The castle has remained within the Berkeley family since they reconstructed it in the...
in Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
. He was made a Knight of the Order of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
on November 4, 1616, when Prince Charles
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
was made Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
. He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
, and received his M.A. degree from the university in 1623. He was made a member of the Council of Wales and the Marches in 1633.
Harding married Elizabeth Stanhope, second daughter of Sir Michael Stanhope of Sudborn, Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, on April 13, 1614. Through is own family and through his wife's, George Harding was connected with established traditions of support for literature. His maternal grandfather had backed of the Lord Chamberlain's Men
Lord Chamberlain's Men
The Lord Chamberlain's Men was a playing company for whom Shakespeare worked for most of his career. Formed at the end of a period of flux in the theatrical world of London, it had become, by 1603, one of the two leading companies of the city and was subsequently patronised by James I.It was...
, the acting company of William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
. George Harding himself has been described as "a friend of the King's Men
King's Men (playing company)
The King's Men was the company of actors to which William Shakespeare belonged through most of his career. Formerly known as The Lord Chamberlain's Men during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, it became The King's Men in 1603 when King James ascended the throne and became the company's patron.The...
." His wife was connected to Katherine Stanhope, the dedicatee of Massinger's The Duke of Milan
The Duke of Milan
The Duke of Milan is a Jacobean era stage play, a tragedy written by Philip Massinger. First published in 1623, the play is generally considered among the author's finest achievements in drama.-Performance:...
.
Upon his death in 1658, the 8th Baron was succeeded by his second son, also named George Harding, as 9th Baron Berkeley.
(Note: members of the Berkeley family
Berkeley family
The Berkeley family has an unbroken male line of descent from a Saxon ancestor before the Norman conquest of England in 1066 to the present day.-History:...
, the descendants of Robert Fitzharding, are often identified with the Berkeley surname; George Harding, 8th Baron, is George Berkeley in many sources. In his own era, however, in the dedications of contemporaneous works like The Duchess of Malfi, he is consistently identified as George Harding.)
Sources
- Doyle, James William Edmund. The Official Baronage of England. London, Longmans, Green, 1886.