Ralph Bernal (2 October 1783[1] or 2 October 1784[2] - 26 August 1854) was a British Whig[3] politician and art collector. His family were Sephardi Jews of Spanish origin, but he was baptised at St Olave Hart Street in London.[1]
He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Lincoln 1818 to 1820 [4] and MP for Rochester from 1820 to 1841 and again from 1847 to 1852.[2] From 1842 to 1847 he was MP for Weymouth and Melcombe Regis.[5]
Bernal was president of the British Archaeological Society in 1853. He built up a substantial collection of glass, ceramics and other art objects, which were auctioned after his death, with the 4,000 lots selling for £70,000.[1]
His eldest son was Ralph Bernal Osborne (1808–1882), a politician, who took on the surname Osborne on marrying the daughter of Sir Thomas Osborne, 9th Baronet.[6]
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Nicholas Fazakerley Coningsby Waldo-Sibthorpe |
Member of Parliament for Lincoln 1818 – 1820 With: Coningsby Waldo-Sibthorpe |
Succeeded by Coningsby Waldo-Sibthorpe Robert Percy Smith |
| Preceded by Lord Binning James Barnett |
Member of Parliament for Rochester 1820 – 1841 With: Lord Binning 1820-1826 Henry Dundas 1826-1830 Viscount Villiers 1830-1831 John Mills 1831-1835 Thomas Twisden Hodges 1835-1837 Thomas Benjamin Hobhouse 1837-1841 |
Succeeded by James Douglas William Bodkin |
| Preceded by Viscount Villiers George William Hope |
Member of Parliament for Weymouth & Melcombe Regis 1842 – 1847 With: William Dougal Christie |
Succeeded by William Dougal Christie William Lockyer Freestun |
| Preceded by James Douglas Stoddart Douglas William Bodkin |
Member of Parliament for Rochester 1847 – 1852 With: Thomas Twisden Hodges |
Succeeded by Hon. Francis Child Villiers Sir Thomas Maddock |