John Berkeley, 5th Baron Berkeley of Stratton
Encyclopedia
John Berkeley, 5th Baron Berkeley of Stratton PC (16 May 1697 – 18 April 1773), styled The Honourable John Berkeley until 1741, was a British politician.
, by Frances, daughter of Sir John Temple
, Speaker of the Irish House of Commons
. He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford
.
in 1735, a seat he held until 1741, when he succeeded his father in the barony and took his seat in the House of Lords
. In 1743 he was appointed Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
, which he remained until 1746. He was sworn of the Privy Council in 1752 and served as Treasurer of the Household
between 1755 and 1756 and Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen Pensioners between 1756 and 1762. From 1762 to 1770 he was Lord-Lieutenant of the Tower Hamlets and Constable of the Tower of London.
, Somerset
, in April 1773, aged 75, when the barony became extinct. He devised his considerable estates, which included Berkeley Square
in London
, to his kinsman the Earl of Berkeley.
Background and education
Berkeley was the son of William Berkeley, 4th Baron Berkeley of StrattonWilliam Berkeley, 4th Baron Berkeley of Stratton
William Berkeley, 4th Baron Berkeley of Stratton PC, PC , was a British politician and judge. He was Master of the Rolls in Ireland between 16896 and 1731 and also held political office as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster from 1710 to 1714 and as First Lord of Trade from 1714 to...
, by Frances, daughter of Sir John Temple
John Temple (politician)
Sir John Temple was an Irish politician, Speaker of the Irish House of Commons and Attorney General for Ireland....
, Speaker of the Irish House of Commons
Irish House of Commons
The Irish House of Commons was the lower house of the Parliament of Ireland, that existed from 1297 until 1800. The upper house was the House of Lords...
. 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...
.
Political career
Berkeley was returned to parliament as one of two representatives for StockbridgeStockbridge (UK Parliament constituency)
Stockbridge was a parliamentary borough in Hampshire, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1563 until 1832, when the borough was abolished by the Great Reform Act...
in 1735, a seat he held until 1741, when he succeeded his father in the barony and took his seat in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. In 1743 he was appointed Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
The Captain of the Queen's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard is a UK government post usually held by the Government Deputy Chief Whip in the House of Lords...
, which he remained until 1746. He was sworn of the Privy Council in 1752 and served as Treasurer of the Household
Treasurer of the Household
The position of Treasurer of the Household is theoretically held by a household official of the British monarch, under control of the Lord Steward's Department, but is, in fact, a political office held by one of the government's Deputy Chief Whips in the House of Commons...
between 1755 and 1756 and Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen Pensioners between 1756 and 1762. From 1762 to 1770 he was Lord-Lieutenant of the Tower Hamlets and Constable of the Tower of London.
Personal life
Lord Berkeley of Stratton was married but had no children. He died at Bruton AbbeyBruton Abbey
Bruton Abbey in Bruton, Somerset was originally founded as a Benedictine priory by Algar, Earl of Cornwall in about 1005. It was subsequently refounded as a house of Augustinian canons in 1135, by William de Mohun, who later became the Earl of Somerset. The village used the north aisle of the...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, in April 1773, aged 75, when the barony became extinct. He devised his considerable estates, which included Berkeley Square
Berkeley Square
Berkeley Square is a town square in the West End of London, England, in the City of Westminster. It was originally laid out in the mid 18th century by architect William Kent...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, to his kinsman the Earl of Berkeley.