Baron Beresford

Baron Beresford was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom that was created twice. In both instances it was created for men who were both eminent soldiers and politicians, and in both cases it became extinct at the death of the original holder.

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

• The first creation, as Baron Beresford, of Albuera and Dungarvan in the County of Waterford, was announced on 3 May 1814 for General William Carr Beresford, GCB, GCH, GCTE (1768–1856). He was an illegitimate son of 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 to Portugal on a mission to support the Portuguese army. 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 created 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.

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

• The second creation, as Baron Beresford, of Metemmeh and Curraghmore in the County of Waterford, was announced on 28 January 1916 for Admiral Lord Charles William Beresford, GCB, GCVO (1846–1919). As the second son of the 4th Marquess of Waterford he was styled "Lord Charles William Beresford" between 1859 and 1916. He combined the two careers of the Royal Navy and 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.