Baron Beresford

Baron Beresford is a title that was created three times, one in the Peerage of Ireland and later also two in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. In all instances it was created for men who were eminent politicians or soldiers. The first creation still exists as a subsidiary title, but the latter two became extinct at the death of their original holder.

Baron Beresford, first creation (1720)

The first creation was for Sir Marcus Beresford, 4th Baronet. In 1715, he entered the Irish House of Commons, sitting for Coleraine until 1720, when he was raised to the Peerage of Ireland with the title Baron Beresford, of Beresford, in the County of Cavan, and further as Viscount Tyrone by King George I of Great Britain. A year later, he joined the Irish House of Lords. In 1736, he became Grandmaster of the Grand Lodge of Ireland, serving for the next two years. Beresford was further honoured in 1746, when he was created Earl of Tyrone. With the death of the 1st Earl of Tyrone, all his titles where inherited by George Beresford in 1763. He was Governor of Waterford from 1766 and custos rotulorum of that county from 1769 to 1800, during which time he was made a Knight of St Patrick, created Baron Tyrone in the Peerage of Great Britain in 1786 and elevated as a Marquess of Waterford in 1789. The title Baron Beresford is still extant and held by the Marquesses of Waterford as a subsidiary title. Since 1934, the current holder is John Beresford, 8th Marquess of Waterford (born 1933).

Baron Beresford, second creation (1814)

William Beresford (1768–1856), painted by Sir William Beechey

The second creation was for General William Carr Beresford, GCB, GCH, GCTE (1768–1856) as Baron Beresford, of Albuera and Dungarvan in the County of Waterford, and was announced on 3 May 1814. He was an illegitimate son of the 1st Marquess of Waterford. William Beresford entered the British Army in 1785 and the next year he was blinded in one eye in an accident. In 1807 he was sent on a mission to Portugal. Later a general in the British Army and a marshal in the Portuguese army, he fought with the Duke of Wellington in the Peninsular War. For his services in Portugal he was created Count of Trancoso on 13 May 1811 and also Marquis of Campo Maior on 17 December 1812, both by decree of Prince Regent John. In the UK, Beresford was Member of Parliament for County Waterford from 1811 to 1814 until he was raised to the peerage as Baron Beresford in 1814 and thus entered the House of Lords. In 1823 he was further made Viscount Beresford, of Beresford in the County of Stafford. After his permanent return to Britain, he held the office of Master-General of the Ordnance in 1828 in Wellington's first ministry. In 1832 he married his first cousin Louisa, daughter of William Beresford, 1st Baron Decies and Elizabeth Fitzgibbon. The marriage was childless. Lord Beresford died in 1854 at the age of 85, when his UK titles became extinct. He was also the last titular Governor of Jersey; since his death the Crown has been represented in Jersey by the Lieutenant Governor of Jersey.

Baron Beresford, third creation (1916)

Charles Beresford (1846–1919), painted by Charles Wellington Furse

The third creation was for Admiral Lord Charles William Beresford, GCB, GCVO (1846–1919) as Baron Beresford, of Metemmeh and Curraghmore in the County of Waterford, and was announced on 28 January 1916. As the second son of the 4th Marquess of Waterford he was styled "Lord Charles William Beresford" between 1859 and 1916. He was the great-nephew of William Beresford (above). He combined careers in the Royal Navy and as a Member of Parliament, serving for many years in both capacities: He was MP for County Waterford from 1874–1880, for Marylebone East from 1885–1889, for Member of Parliament for City of York from 1898–1900, for Woolwich from 1902–1903 and for Portsmouth from Jan. 1910–1916. In the navy, he held the posts of Junior Naval Lord from 1886–1888, Commander-in-Chief, Channel Fleet from 1903–1905,Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet from 1905–1907 and Commander-in-Chief, Channel Fleet from 1907–1909. His later career was marked by a longstanding dispute with Admiral of the Fleet Sir John Fisher, over reforms championed by Fisher introducing new technology and sweeping away traditional practices. Beresford retired from the navy in 1911 with the rank of Admiral and remained a Member of the House of Commons until 1916. In 1878 he married Mina Gardner, daughter of Richard Gardner and Lucy Mandesloh. They had two daughters. Lord Beresford died in 1919 at the age of 73, when his title became extinct.