Henry Berkeley (MP for Ilchester)

Sir Henry Berkeley (1579–1667) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1626 and 1640. He supported the Royalist side in the English Civil War

Berkeley was the son of Sir Henry Berkeley of Bruton and his wife Margaret Lygon, daughter of William Lygon of Madresfield, Worcestershire. He matriculated at Queen's College, Oxford aged 11 on 13 February 1590 together with his brother Maurice.[1] In 1601 he inherited the manor of Yarlington on the death of his father. [2] He was knighted at Whitehall on 29 April 1609.[3]

In 1626 Berkeley was elected Member of Parliament for Somerset. In 1628 he was elected MP for Ilchester and sat until 1629 when King Charles decided to rule without parliament for eleven years. In April 1640, Berkeley was elected MP for Ilchester in the Short Parliament.[4] Berkeley was a Commissioner of Array for the King during the Civil War, and was included in the surrender of Exeter on 13 April 1646.[2]

Berkeley died between 1666 and 1667.[2]

Berkeley married Elizabeth Nevill, daughter of Sir Henry Nevill of Billingbear House, Berkshire and his wife Ann Killigrew, daughter of Sir Henry Killigrew.[2] His daughter Dorothy married Francis Godolphin and brought him the Yarlington estate.[5]

References

  1. ^ 'Alumni Oxonienses, 1500-1714: Bennell-Bloye', Alumni Oxonienses 1500-1714: Abannan-Kyte (1891), pp. 106-141. Date accessed: 21 June 2011
  2. ^ a b c d Visitation of England and Wales
  3. ^ Knights of England
  4. ^ Browne Willis Notitia parliamentaria, or, An history of the counties, cities, and boroughs in England and Wales: ... The whole extracted from mss. and printed evidences 1750 pp229-239
  5. ^ Parishes: Ilchester, A History of the County of Somerset: Volume 3 (1974), pp. 179–203. Date accessed: 09 January 2011
Parliament of England
Preceded by
Sir Robert Phelips
John Stawell		 Member of Parliament for Somerset
1626
With: Sir John Horner		 Succeeded by
Sir Robert Phelips
Sir Edward Rodney
Preceded by
Sir William Beecher
Robert Caesar		 Member of Parliament for Ilchester
1628–1629
With: Sir Robert George		 Succeeded by
Parliament suspended until 1640
Preceded by
Parliament suspended since 1629		 Member of Parliament for Ilchester
1640
With: Edward Phelips		 Succeeded by
Edward Phelips
Robert Hunt