Name Henry Berkeley Role Politician | Died March 10, 1870 | |
Parents Frederick Augustus Berkeley, 5th Earl of Berkeley Grandparents Augustus Berkeley, 4th Earl of Berkeley Great-grandparents James Berkeley, 3rd Earl of Berkeley |
Francis Henry FitzHardinge Berkeley (7 December 1794 – 10 March 1870) was a British politician.
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Background and education
Berkeley was the fourth son of Frederick Berkeley, 5th Earl of Berkeley, and Mary, daughter of William Cole. The validity of his parents' marriage was the subject of some controversy, and in 1811 the House of Lords decided that Berkeley and six of his twelve siblings were born out of wedlock. His brothers included William Berkeley, 1st Earl FitzHardinge, Maurice Berkeley, 1st Baron FitzHardinge, Grantley Berkeley and Craven Berkeley. He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford.
Political career
Berkeley was returned to Parliament as one of two representatives for Bristol in 1837, a seat he held until his death in 1870. He was a longstanding advocate of secret ballot reform, which was finally adopted after his death in 1872.
Personal life
Berkeley died in March 1870, aged 75. And is buried in St Dunstan's churchyard in Cranford, Middlesex.