William Berkeley, 4th Baron Berkeley of Stratton
William Berkeley, 4th Baron Berkeley of Stratton PC, PC (I) (d. 24 March 1741), was a British politician and judge, of the Bruton branch of the Berkeley family. He was Master of the Rolls in Ireland between 1696 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 1715.
The Lord Berkeley of Stratton PC PC (I) | |
|---|---|
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | |
| In office 21 September 1710 – 6 November 1714 | |
| Monarch | Queen Anne George I |
| Preceded by | The Earl of Derby |
| Succeeded by | The Earl of Aylesford |
| First Lord of Trade | |
| In office September 1714 – 12 May 1715 | |
| Monarch | George I |
| Preceded by | The Lord Guilford |
| Succeeded by | The Earl of Suffolk |
| Personal details | |
| Died | 24 March 1741 Bruton, Somerset |
| Nationality | British |
| Spouse(s) | Frances Temple (d. 1707) |
Background
Berkeley was the third son of John Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley of Stratton, by Christiana, daughter of Sir Andrew Riccard. Charles who held the title two years and John, an Admiral who held the title 16 years were elder brothers. He lived a much longer life.[1] He was born on unknown date between John's 1663 birth and 23 March 1672, all dates which would make him a septuagenarian per his funerary monument.
Political and judicial career
In 1696 Berkeley was appointed Master of the Rolls in Ireland[1] and sworn of the Irish Privy Council.[1][2] The following year he succeeded his elder brother in the barony.[1] In 1710 he was admitted to the English Privy Council and appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. He was made First Lord of Trade in 1714, a post he held until 1715.[1][3] He remained Master of the Rolls in Ireland during this period and continued in this post until 1731.[1]
Family
Lord Berkeley of Stratton married Frances, daughter of Sir John Temple and Jane Yarner; her sister Jane married his elder brother. They had several children, including the Honourable Frances, who married William Byron, 4th Baron Byron, and was the mother of William Byron, 5th Baron Byron, and of Admiral John Byron. Lady Berkeley of Stratton died in July 1707. Lord Berkeley of Stratton remained a widower until his death at Bruton, Somerset, in March 1741. He was succeeded by his eldest son, John.[1]
His pedimented, marble plaque-holding monument engraved with fruit, waves and flourishes in Bruton church reads:[4]
Sub hoc marmore requiescunt Cineres [Beneath this stone rest the ashes]
Guileemi Berkeley[of William Berkeley]
Baronis de Stratton [Baron of Stratton]
Obivit diem septuagenarius [on a date in his 70s]
Anno 1741 [1741]
τα AΛΛΑ επιA, ταύτα σου μνημείων ΈΣΤΩ [but also, these monuments are now]
Notes and References
- Notes
- This equates to a circa 5th century BC quote attributed to Pericles, https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Pericles, usually translated to what you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.
- References
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir William Temple |
Master of the Rolls in Ireland 1696–1731 |
Succeeded by Thomas Carter |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by The Earl of Derby |
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 1710–1714 |
Succeeded by The Earl of Aylesford |
| Preceded by The Lord Guilford |
First Lord of Trade 1714–1715 |
Succeeded by The Earl of Suffolk |
| Peerage of England | ||
| Preceded by John Berkeley |
Baron Berkeley of Stratton 1697–1741 |
Succeeded by John Berkeley |