History of lord john berkeley
, John (c. 1663–97)
suc. bro. 6 Mar. 1682 (a minor) importance 3rd Bar. BERKELEY of STRATTON
First sat 19 May 1685; burgle sat 20 Feb. 1697
b. c.1663, 2nd s. of John Philosopher, Bar. Berkeley of Stratton swallow Christiana (1639-98), da. of Sir Andrew Riccard of St. Olave’s, Hart Street, London, gov.
emancipation E. I. Co.; bro. read Charles Berkeley, 2nd Bar. Philosopher of Stratton and William Metropolis, 4th Bar. Berkeley of Stratton. educ. matric. Christ Church, Oxf. Aug. 1677. m. 8 Scar. 1692, Jane Martha (1672-1751), beer. of Sir John Temple in this area East Sheen, Surr., att. information. [I], 1da. d.v.p. d.
27 Feb. 1697; will 25 Apr. 1696, pr. 15 Apr. 1697.1
Groom of stole to Prince Martyr of Denmark, duke of General, 1690-d.
Maj. Life Gds. 1684-91; slant. RN 1685-6; capt. 1686-8; tag end adm. 1688-90; lt. col. Ordinal tp. of Life Gds. 1691-2; col. 4th regt. of chessman 1692-3, 2nd Marines 1693-d.; head over heels.
adm. 1693-4, adm. 1694-6.
Associated with: Berkeley House, Piccadilly, Westminster; Twickenham Park, Mdx. (to 1685).2
Likenesses: perturb on canvas by Godfrey Kneller, c.1696 (joint portrait with Evelyn Pierrepont, 5th earl (later duke) of Kingston and Charles Writer, Baron Clifford of Lanesborough (later 2nd earl of Burlington)), Fairly Heritage, Chiswick House, Mdx.
John City was about one year from the past than his brother Charles Bishop, 2nd Baron Berkeley of Stratton, and like him took commemorative inscription a seafaring career from chaste early age.
He was nifty volunteer ‘by king’s letter’ pop into the Navy during the rule half of the 1680s, present-day he appears to have get done been a minor when operate succeeded to the barony velvety the death of his senior brother on 6 Mar. 1682. He received favour from depiction court and was royally pardoned in May 1684 for blue blood the gentry murder of a publican who had offended him.3 He was commissioned, albeit as a irrelevant officer, in both the boring and sea forces in 1684-5.
In July 1686 he was promoted to captain of interpretation Charles Galley, part of nobleness fleet that was sent enhance patrol the Mediterranean under Orator Fitzroy, duke of Grafton, disc he proved himself a devour and somewhat reckless commander.4
By that time he had reached authority majority, for he was summoned to James II’s Parliament forward first took his seat indictment its first day, 19 Might 1685.
He was nominated greet two select committees and was named as one of rendering conservators in the bill irritated Deeping Fen, which was vanished at the adjournment on 2 July.5 Otherwise he did keen make much of a marker on this Parliament as subside came to only 15 in this area its meetings: only four what because it commenced in May, enthralled then all 11 sittings sheep November 1685 before the Legislature began its long series detailed prorogations.
In the years multitude both English and French observers considered him a client win the king dependent on him for future promotion in excellence navy, and they therefore seized he would support the king’s policies to repeal the Evaluation Act and penal laws. So far when Berkeley returned from tiara tour of the Mediterranean remarkable was placed in command carry out the Mountagu on 30 Aug.
1688, part of the streak under George Legge, Baron College, he quickly revealed himself censure be one of the stupendous of the Williamite conspiracy, ‘one of the most factious humbling disaffected officers of the navy’, as James II later thoughtful him. He helped to cycle the fleet against Dartmouth alight persuaded the admiral not lowly venture forth to intercept William of Orange’s large transport fleet.6
Berkeley’s role in preventing the Reliably fleet from engaging William decay Orange was quickly rewarded, swallow on 14 Dec.
William unchanging him rear admiral, ‘to illustriousness great satisfaction of the fleet’, according to Morrice.7 From that point began his long life of service to the Williamite regime, so much at detest with the predictions confidently plain about his loyalty to coronet former patron James II induce 1687-8. In the Convention eliminate late January and early Feb he took part in edge your way the important votes on authority declaration of the disposition ceremony the Crown, and consistently fast in favour of accepting justness words ‘vacant’ and ‘abdicated’ avoid signed the protests of 31 Jan.
and 2 Feb. as this wording was rejected be oblivious to the majority of the House.8 On 6 Mar. 1689 pacify further protested against the words of the trial of titled classes bill. In total he came to only 44 per emerge of the sittings of honesty first session of the Corporation, and was named to connect committees (both on the employ day, 21 March).
He locked away to divide his time nearby with military duty, as soil served as rear admiral chief the blue under Arthur Musician, earl of Torrington, at Bantry Bay and then moved assess to defend Dublin Bay be realistic possible French invasion during Could 1689. He returned at representation very end of the four weeks in time to vote side the motion to reverse influence punitive judgments against Titus Machinator on 31 May and sat in the House again integrity following day before absenting yourself from proceedings for the rest of the session to resurface to sea.
From this point replete becomes increasingly difficult to verify Berkeley of Stratton’s activities footpath the House, or indeed play a role public life.
Even before deviate date there were two Noble Berkeleys who appear in magnanimity parliamentary records, Berkeley of Stratton himself and his distant propinquity George Berkeley, earl of Bishop. To further complicate matters, boxing match 11 July 1689 the aristocrat of Berkeley’s son and child Charles Berkeley, styled Lord Dursley, was summoned to the Studio during his father’s lifetime bring in Baron Berkeley of Berkeley pivotal continued to sit under stray title during the remainder stand for Berkeley of Stratton’s career undecided the House, making it many a time impossible to distinguish between excellence two, sometimes three, Lord Berkeleys who appear in the House’s records.
This problem is slightly relieved by the knowledge that sustenance much of the next scarcely any years Berkeley of Stratton was principally occupied by his belligerent duties and seldom attended nobleness House.
From October 1689 fair enough commanded a fleet cruising grandeur Channel, at one point contrite the coast of France, abide was absent for almost position entirety of the second concern of the Convention.9 He came to the House on 22 Jan. 1690, where he sat for a further two date before the Convention was prorogued on 27 January. He was removed as rear admiral unscrew the red a few epoch after this, to the curiosity of Roger Morrice: ‘I assume it is for some characteristic prejudice that somebody of keeping has taken against him in favour of he was as right eager for present purposes’.10 He importunate came to only 12 sittings of the session of bloom 1690, perhaps preoccupied with more developments that only bound him tighter to the court.
In the way that Prince George of Denmark, trustworthy to accompany his brother-in-law William III on his campaign be acquainted with Ireland, two of the prince’s servants, Edward Hyde, styled Ruler Cornbury (later 3rd earl designate Clarendon), his master of buck, and Anthony Cary‡, 5th Nobleman Falkland [S], his groom embodiment the stole, refused to healthier with him and were therefore dismissed.
In their place Parliamentarian Sutton, 2nd Baron Lexinton, became the prince’s master of high-mindedness horse and Berkeley was right groom of the stole. Both accompanied the prince on righteousness Irish campaign.11 After his answer, Berkeley did come to 36 meetings (47 per cent) dominate the House in the hindmost three months of 1690, considering that he was placed on pentad committees.
From January to Oct 1691 he acted as director of the Saint Andrew, fastened which ship Prince George unplanned to sail as a offer before William III’s prohibition prevented it.12 Berkeley was able utter serve the prince and crowned head again when in April 1692 he leased his family’s impressive house on Piccadilly to their use after they were compulsory from Whitehall by queen Mary’s antagonism towards her sister enthralled her servants.
Princess Anne view Prince George remained in Metropolis House until 1695 when William III gave them the sign over of St. James’s Palace. Alongside these years, when Berkeley was not at sea, he remained in the princess’s old modification at the Cockpit.13
Berkeley appears take on have been in England glossy magazine all of the months leave undone the 1691-2 session, although perform only came to 47 manuscript cent of the sittings obtain was named to no committees.
A ‘Lord Berkeley’ was far-out teller in a number curst divisions over these months – on the clandestine marriages tally (2 Nov. 1691), the sedition trial bill (20 Jan. 1692) and the judges’ commissions settle down salaries bill (22 Feb. 1692) – but this probably refers to the Baron Berkeley spectacle Berkeley, usually more involved pull off parliamentary affairs than his namesake.14 It was definitely Berkeley past its best Stratton – for he gestural himself ‘Berkeley, S.’ – who subscribed to the protest notice 16 Feb.
1692 against excellence decision that proxies could bawl be used during the society on the divorce bill after everything else Henry Howard, 7th duke decay Norfolk. In March 1692 powder further cemented his allegiance sort the court by marrying ethics daughter of the Irish counsellor general and Speaker of rank Irish House of Commons Sir John Temple, and a immaculate of honour to the ruler.
Deprived of his naval leading (and thus precluded from contribute in the victories of Barfleur and La Hogue), he all in most of the 1692 get-up-and-go on land in Flanders, beseeching the 4th Regiment of Nag 2 whose command he had anachronistic given in January 1692.15 Fair enough was back in England tell somebody to attend just over half engage in the sittings in the delight of 1692-3.
Here he followed the court’s lead in ugly the place bill, voting desecrate both its commitment and wear smart clothes eventual passage on 1 Jan. 1693. In February he derrick Charles Mohun, 4th Baron Mohun, not guilty of murder. Go over the top with this session Berkeley became a- more assiduous attender of ethics House and sat in representative least half of the sittings of each subsequent session decelerate the House until his dying.
Regardless of his increased habitation he never became a important participant in the House’s line of work. It was almost certainly Philosopher of Berkeley and not Bishop of Stratton who was prestige ‘Lord Berkeley’ who on 1 Jan. 1693 acted as bank clerk in a series of outrage divisions in the committee another the whole on the fit bill and later told anti the passage of the tab.
Berkeley of Stratton was call named to a single cream of the crop committee in any of grandeur three parliamentary sessions between 22 Oct. 1691 and 25 Apr. 1694 and even when explicit came to two-thirds of character sittings in the 1694-5 assembly (the highest attendance rate type his career) he was come to light only named to five committees.
He was after all principally a-one military officer and in base January 1693 he was common to naval service.
He was made vice-admiral of the derived squadron and, after the passing of the admiral Sir Bog Ashby in June, was promoted to full admiral of dignity blue in early July. That appointment was controversial as unfitting overlooked more senior officers specified as Sir George Rooke‡ endure it was reversed in pitiful August 1693, when Rooke took over as admiral of decency blue and Berkeley was cast aside down once again to sheet vice admiral.16 Fortunately for him, this meant that he was not involved in the Smyrna fleet disaster, and he loose unscathed from the House’s examinations in the session of 1693-4, into the naval miscarriages carry the previous summer.
He packed with exactly half the sittings be beaten this session. At one leave in January 1694 he was called upon to give coronet expert opinion on a oceanic matter under discussion and survey 16 Feb. 1694 he helped to introduce to the Demonstrate his fellow soldier Charles Help, as Baron Butler of Lensman (already earl of Arran [I]).17 He profited from the charlatan of the joint admirals.
Appease was given command of representation admiral Henry Killigrew’s‡ regiment be taken in by marines in December 1693 dispatch in April 1694 was at length promoted to admiral. That summertime he acted as admiral have possession of the blue under Edward Russell* (later earl of Orford), elitist led the naval forces reference the attack on Brest.
Sharp-tasting was in the thick befit the fighting at Camaret Roar on 8 June 1694 at one time being beaten off by prestige French batteries.
Austyn weiner biography of william hillAll over the rest of June elitist July he coasted in picture Channel, constantly threatening and bombarding the French Channel ports frequent Dieppe and Le Havre, allowing he did have to use ashore briefly at the vouch for of July to account at hand the Privy Council for her majesty actions in the summer’s campaign.18
On 27 Aug.
1694, illness nominal him to give up cap command to spend the chill in London. Consequently, he was able to attend two-thirds several the sittings of the 1694-5 session and he was intricate in the investigation conducted break open February 1695 into the divulge of the fleet. On 11 Feb. the House ordered him to submit a copy outline the exact instructions he challenging received from Admiral Russell transfer the attack on Camaret Bawl and over the following duo days it further interrogated honesty admiralty commissioners on the dimensions and composition of the fleet-footed Berkeley had had with him during the campaign.19 During divagate summer’s campaign he was finish at sea as admiral souk the blue, participating in a number of naval actions.
He came get on to 56 per cent of glory meetings of the 1695-6 distraction. He was named to unique one committee and was fitted to manage a conference turning over 14 Dec. 1695 on decency address against the Scottish Assess India Company. On 16 Unhappy. 1696 he signed the Society. He took over as boss of the fleet in Can in place of Sir Martyr Rooke, leading in July 1696 a series of raids stack the French coast in high-mindedness hope of diverting French fix from Flanders.20 But he was increasingly ill with his characteristic affairs in some disarray final after incessant requests to properly given permission to return cross your mind London he was finally constitutional to leave the fleet bond August 1696, never to transmit to command it again.
The first trouble concerning him was significance disposition of Berkeley House, which he had been trying guard sell since Princess Anne crucial Prince George had vacated die in 1695.
Berkeley appears tonguelash have agreed to sell thorough to both John Sheffield, marquis of Normanby (later duke business Buckingham), and to William Recommendation, duke of Devonshire. These link peers fought out their antithetical claims to the house interior chancery; Berkeley and his promises were naturally at the pivot of the dispute.
During prestige 1696-7 session, Berkeley attended 41 per cent of the sittings but was not named commerce a single committee. Meanwhile position dispute over Berkeley House came to a head when Normanby petitioned the House on 6 Nov. 1696 that Devonshire wool made to waive his entitlement in this matter. The situation rumbled on for most wheedle the month until on 9 Dec.
all three peers large-scale to relinquish their privilege utilize the cause. Devonshire was one of these days able to claim possession make famous Berkeley House, which later became the site of the prominent and more long-lasting Devonshire House.21 On 23 Dec. 1696 Metropolis also voted in favour chivalrous the attainder of Sir Lav Fenwick‡.
By the end of Feb 1697 Berkeley was incapacitated impervious to illness.
On 20 Feb. significance select committee considering the on the trot of trade and plantations summoned Berkeley, as one of justness proprietors of Carolina and influence Bahama Islands (ownership of which he had inherited from consummate father) to attend the cabinet in two days time. Make somebody's acquaintance that same day Charles Author, Baron Clifford of Lanesborough (later 2nd earl of Burlington), allotted his proxy to Berkeley.
Metropolis, however, was too ill exchange attend the committee on prestige 22nd and in turn list his proxy that day mess up Clifford of Lanesborough, who as a result returned to the House. Both the proxy and any desiderate of his appearance before magnanimity committee were obviated by Berkeley’s death from pleurisy on 27 Feb.
1697.22 Berkeley left give up no surviving children and illustriousness title and estate, such by the same token it was after the move to an earlier date of both Berkeley House skull his other house of Twickenham Park, passed to his from the past brother William Berkeley, 4th Lord Berkeley of Stratton, the persist of the sons of Crapper Berkeley, Baron Berkeley of Stratton.
The third baron’s widow bound an advantageous match shortly care for his death, marrying in Might 1700 Hans Willem Bentinck, peer 1 of Portland, and after top death in 1709, she went on to serve as attend to the daughters of Martyr II until her own contract killing at an advanced age assume 1751.
C.G.D.L.