Sir John Beresford, 1st Baronet
| Sir John Beresford | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1766 |
| Died | 2 October 1844 |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
 Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1782–1835 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands held |
HMS Hussar HMS Prevoyant HMS Poictiers Nore Command |
| Battles/wars | War of 1812 |
| Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Guelphic Order |
Sir John Beresford, 1st Baronet, GCH (1766 – 2 October 1844) was an officer in the Royal Navy who rose to the rank of Second Sea Lord, and also served as Conservative Member of Parliament.
Naval career
Beresford was an illegitimate son of George Beresford, 1st Marquess of Waterford, and the brother of William Beresford, 1st Viscount Beresford. He joined the Royal Navy in 1782.[1]
During the War of 1812, he served as captain of HMS Poictiers, during which time he ineffectually bombarded the town of Lewes in Delaware. More importantly, Poictiers participated in an action where, four hours after USS Wasp, commanded by Jacob Jones, captured HMS Frolic, Capt Beresford captured Wasp and recaptured Frolic, and brought both to Bermuda. He was appointed Commander-in-Chief, The Nore in 1830.[2]
He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Coleraine (1809–1812 and 1814–1823), Berwick-upon-Tweed 1823–1826, Northallerton (1826–1832), and Chatham 1835–1837.
Beresford was knighted in 1812,[1] and made a baronet in 1814, of Bagnall in the County of Waterford (see Beresford baronets).[3]
Family
In 1809 Beresford married Marry Molloy, the daughter of Captain Anthony James Pye Molloy; they had a son, George, before Mary's death in 1813. In 1815 Beresford was remarried to Harriet Elizabeth Peirse, daughter of Henry Peirce, and with her had three sons and two daughters. Harriet died in 1825, and Beresford was again married to Amelia Peach, widow of Samuel Peach and daughter of James Bailie. They had no children, and Amelia outlived him. He was succeeded in the baronetcy by his son from the first marriage, George, who, as he had no surviving sons, was later succeeded by his half-nephew.[4]
Notes
- 1 2 Lambert 2004.
- ↑ William Loney RN
- ↑ Laughton 1885.
- ↑ "Beresford-Peirse, of Bagnall, Waterford". Cracroft's Peerage.
References
Laughton, John Knox (1885). "Beresford, John Poo". In Stephen, Leslie. Dictionary of National Biography 4. London: Smith, Elder & Co. - Lambert, Andrew. "‘Beresford, Sir John Poo, first baronet (1766–1844)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/2197. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
External links
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Sir John Beresford
- Leigh Rayment's list of baronets
- Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs